Abstract: Systems and methods relating to location-based applications, such as widgets, are disclosed. In general, in one embodiment, location-based application service obtains an anticipated location of a mobile device and determines whether the anticipated location of the mobile device is associated with one of a plurality of non-adjacent geographic locations associated with an establishment. An application identifier associated with the plurality of non-adjacent geographic locations associated with the establishment is provided based on the determination, where the application identifier at least one of identifies an application for the mobile device to activate and references a remote source for the mobile device to obtain the application.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for facilitating contact or communication between users or participants. A profile matching process is performed to match a user profile of a first user to a user profile of a second user. A number of questions to ask the second user are automatically selected. In addition, an answer to one or more of the questions may be suggested to the second user. The questions and any suggested answers are then sent to the second user at an associated user device. A reward to be revealed to the second user in response to answering the questions may also be provided. A summary of the answers given by the second user may be provided to the first user. In response, the first user may choose to share his or her full or partial user profile, contact information, or the like with the second user.

Abstract: The claimed subject matter is directed to systems and methods for providing passive crowd-sourced alternate route recommendations. In one embodiment, locations of users of a number of mobile location-aware devices are tracked over time. Upon receiving a request, users of mobile location-aware devices that have traveled from a desired start location to a desired stop location are identified. At least one of the different routes taken by one or more users from the desired start location to the desired stop location is provided to the requestor as at least one recommended alternate route. The different routes taken by the one or more users from the desired start location to the desired stop location include routes taken that begin before the desired start location and go through the start location and routes taken that stop beyond the desired stop location and go through the desired stop location.

Abstract: A system and method for allowing a user to more effectively generate focused content results, including audio and/or video content is described. Content is dynamically filtered to generate content results in response to initial filtering settings or characteristics. The content results are provided to a user. Once the user finds and selects a content result of interest, additional filtering characteristics associated with the selected result are provided to the user as a suggestion for additional filtering. In this manner, the user is made aware of additional filtering settings or characteristics that can be used to focus the search results. Subsequent filter settings and filtering operations can be based on characteristics of previous relevant results in an iterative and dynamic manner. Focused results are more likely produced, because additional filtering settings are provided and adjusted according to characteristics of results deemed relevant by the user.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for maintaining a historical record of anonymized user profile data for mobile device users and serving historical requests. In one embodiment, a central system, which includes one or more servers, operates to obtain current locations and user profiles for users of mobile devices. The central system processes the current locations and the user profiles of the users over time to maintain a historical record of anonymized user profile data by location. By anonymizing the user data, privacy of the users of the mobile devices is maintained. The central system may then use the historical record of anonymized user profile data to respond to historical requests. The historical requests may be made by users of the mobile devices, subscribers, and/or third-party services.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems for associating contextual information with data identifying a geographic location. According to embodiments of the present disclosure, a communication originating from the geographic location may be received at a computing device. In response to receiving the communication originating from the geographic location, the contextual information may be presented to the user.

Abstract: A system and method for providing proximity-based quality for multimedia content, including: transmitting multimedia content, and intentionally controlling a quality level of a presentation of the multimedia content based on geographic proximity of a user to a particular location including intentionally controlling the quality level of the presentation of the multimedia content in accordance to a defined quality level for each of a plurality of geographic proximity zones associated with the particular location with at least one first one of the plurality of geographic proximity zones having a first defined quality level that is higher than a second defined quality level of at least one second one of the plurality of geographic proximity zones and the multimedia content in each of the plurality of geographic proximity zones is based on the aggregate of the profiles of mobile devices within the geographic proximity zone.

Abstract: A media device includes a communication interface communicatively coupling the media device to one or more other media devices and a display, and a controller associated with the communication interface. The controller is adapted to access one or more templates comprising a layout of a graphical user interface (GUI). The controller further identifies one or more available media devices from which media content may be streamed, a respective utilization of the media devices and one or more media content streams available from each of the media devices and determine, based upon the template and the one or more media content streams, at least one of the media content streams to display. The controller then acquires and outputs the at least one of the media content streams for display in accordance with the layout.

Abstract: Systems and methods relating to location-based applications, such as widgets, are disclosed. In general, in one embodiment, location-based application service obtains a current location of a mobile device and determines whether the current location of the mobile device is associated with one of a plurality of non-adjacent geographic locations associated with an establishment. An application identifier associated with the plurality of non-adjacent geographic locations associated with the establishment is provided based on the determination, where the application identifier at least one of identifies an application for the mobile device to activate and references a remote source for the mobile device to obtain the application.

Abstract: Systems and methods for suggesting a pause position within electronic text are disclosed herein. According to an aspect, a method may include receiving identification of a current user position within electronic text residing on an electronic device. For example, a current user position may be a page of an e-book that is currently being displayed to a reader or user. The method may include determining a suggested pause position within the electronic text based on the current user position. For example, the suggested pause position may be determined based on the reader's profile, a reading behavior of other readers, metadata, or combinations thereof. The method may also include presenting the suggested pause position on a user interface of the electronic device.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems for identifying an activity of a user based on a chronological order of detected movements of a computing device. According to embodiments of the present disclosure, the method may include detecting movements of a computing device. The method also includes determining a chronological order of the detected movements. Further, the method includes identifying an activity of a user of the computing device based on the detected movements and chronological order. The method also can include determining a geographic location associated with at least one of the movements. Further, the method includes presenting identification of the activity.

Abstract: A system and method for allowing a user to more effectively generate focused content results, including audio and/or video content is described. Content is dynamically filtered to generate content results in response to initial filtering settings or characteristics. The content results are provided to a user. Once the user finds and selects a content result of interest, additional filtering characteristics associated with the selected result are provided to the user as a suggestion for additional filtering. In this manner, the user is made aware of additional filtering settings or characteristics that can be used to focus the search results. Subsequent filter settings and filtering operations can be based on characteristics of previous relevant results in an iterative and dynamic manner. Focused results are more likely produced, because additional filtering settings are provided and adjusted according to characteristics of results deemed relevant by the user.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems for initiating communications with contacts based on a communication specification. According to an aspect, a method may include receiving a communication specification. The communication specification may include identification of one or more contacts, a communication persistence parameter, a geographic location, an event, a date, and a communication channel. The method may also include determining one or more contacts based on the communication specification. Further, the method may include initiating multiple communications with the contacts via at least one communication channel. A communication channel may be a telephone call, an email, a text message, an instant message, and the like.

Abstract: A media device includes a communication interface communicatively coupling the media device to one or more other media devices and a display, and a controller associated with the communication interface. The controller is adapted to access one or more templates comprising a layout of a graphical user interface (GUI). The controller further identifies one or more other media devices from which media content may be streamed and one or more media content streams available from each of the one or more media devices and determine, based upon the template and the one or more media content streams, at least one of the media content streams to display. The controller then acquires and outputs the at least one of the media content streams for display in accordance with the layout.

Abstract: A system and method for providing proximity-based quality for multimedia content, including: transmitting multimedia content, and intentionally controlling a quality level of a presentation of the multimedia content based on geographic proximity of a user to a particular location including intentionally controlling the quality level of the presentation of the multimedia content in accordance to a defined quality level for each of a plurality of geographic proximity zones associated with the particular location with at least one first one of the plurality of geographic proximity zones having a first defined quality level that is higher than a second defined quality level of at least one second one of the plurality of geographic proximity zones.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for forming crowds of users and providing access to corresponding crowd data. In one embodiment, a central system, which includes one or more servers, operates to obtain current locations for users of mobile devices. The system forms a crowd including a number of users based on the current locations of the number of users using a spatial crowd formation process based on an optimal inclusion distance that is a function of density of users of the plurality of users within a bounding region. The central system then generates crowd data for the crowd and provides access to the crowd data for the crowd. In one embodiment, the crowd data for the crowd includes an aggregate profile for the crowd. In another embodiment, the crowd data includes data characterizing the crowd. The central system provides access to the crowd data by serving crowd data requests.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems for enabling recipient control of communications. According to an aspect, a method may include receiving a communication request identifying a proposed timing of a communication and/or a proposed communication channel for the communication. The method may also include receiving selection of an actual timing and/or an actual communication channel for the communication. Further, the method may include initiating the communication based on the selection.

Abstract: A medication storage and dispensing workstation for use in a medication management system administering the inventory and distribution of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies in a healthcare environment is disclosed. The workstation incorporates a linear drawer assembly having a plurality of discrete, removable, storage modules for containing medications and/or other medical supplies. The storage modules are arranged in a linear array extending longitudinally along the travel path of the linear drawer assembly. Each storage module, in turn, comprises a drawer that is extensible laterally relative to the linear arrangement of the storage modules. As such, the drawer assemblies comprise a compartmentalized “drawer-in-drawer” arrangement that provides an efficient use of storage space and enables a user to utilize the workstation in a workspace having a smaller footprint that traditional storage cabinet apparatus.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing passive crowd-sourced alternate route recommendations are disclosed. In one embodiment, locations of users of a number of mobile location-aware devices are tracked over time. Upon receiving a request, users of mobile location-aware devices that have traveled from a desired start location to a desired stop location are identified. At least one of the different routes taken by one or more users from the desired start location to the desired stop location is provided to the requestor as at least one recommended alternate route.

Abstract: A device receives key frame information for each of a plurality of key frames of a video content item and sends the key frame information from the device to a recipient while a corresponding segment of the video content item is being rendered by the device. The key frame information may include key frames of the video content item, references to the key frames of the video content item stored by one or more remote sources, or information identifying the key frames of the video content item to enable extraction of the key frames by a recipient device. Each key frame is representative of a segment of the video content item. The key frame information for the video content item is then sent to second users while the first user views the corresponding segment of the video content item. Advertisements may be sent with, or replace, the key frame information.