Abstract: The technology described herein generates a unique identifier for a visual media that comprises pre-printed visual indications on the visual media and a user's handwritten signature. The location of the signature on the visual media can be determined by including preprinted fiducial marks on the visual media. The fiducial markers act as landmarks that allow the size and location of the signature to be determined in absolute terms. The unique identifier is then stored in computer memory on a user-experience server. The user-experience server can associate the unique identifier with a digital asset, such as an image or video, designated by the user. When the unique identifier is provided to the user-experience server a second time, the digital asset can be retrieved and output to the computing device that provided the unique identifier.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices are provided for altering an appearance of acquaintances when viewed through smart glasses, which may be altered using augmented reality technology. In particular, an embodiment of the invention is directed to allowing users to specify their appearances to others when viewed by others wearing smart glasses. The others viewing the user through smart glasses include friends, family, contacts, or other acquaintances, which may be specified in one or more social networks or contacts databases. The altered appearance that is displayed may be based on the particular relationship between the user and the viewer. For example, a user may appear as a particular superhero to his friends on a social network website, as having a cartoon feature (such as an enormous head) to his children, as normal to his mother and business contacts, and as wearing a Hawaiian shirt to his closest buddies.

Abstract: The technology described herein generates a unique identifier for a visual media that comprises pre-printed visual indications on the visual media and a user's handwritten signature. The location of the signature on the visual media can be determined by including preprinted fiducial marks on the visual media. The fiducial markers act as landmarks that allow the size and location of the signature to be determined in absolute terms. The unique identifier is then stored in computer memory on a user-experience server. The user-experience server can associate the unique identifier with a digital asset, such as an image or video, designated by the user. When the unique identifier is provided to the user-experience server a second time, the digital asset can be retrieved and output to the computing device that provided the unique identifier.

Abstract: The technology described herein generates a unique identifier for a visual media that comprises pre-printed visual indications on the visual media and a user's handwritten signature. The location of the signature on the visual media can be determined by including preprinted fiducial marks on the visual media. The fiducial markers act as landmarks that allow the size and location of the signature to be determined in absolute terms. The unique identifier is then stored in computer memory on a user-experience server. The user-experience server can associate the unique identifier with a digital asset, such as an image or video, designated by the user. When the unique identifier is provided to the user-experience server a second time, the digital asset can be retrieved and output to the computing device that provided the unique identifier.

Abstract: The technology described herein generates a unique identifier for a visual media that comprises pre-printed visual indications on the visual media and a user's handwritten signature. The location of the signature on the visual media can be determined by including preprinted fiducial marks on the visual media. The fiducial markers act as landmarks that allow the size and location of the signature to be determined in absolute terms. The unique identifier is then stored in computer memory on a user-experience server. The user-experience server can associate the unique identifier with a digital asset, such as an image or video, designated by the user. When the unique identifier is provided to the user-experience server a second time, the digital asset can be retrieved and output to the computing device that provided the unique identifier.

Abstract: An aspect of the present invention includes a method for transferring a gift using a gift-transfer application. A digital gift can be associated with a unique tag identifier on a gift item, and the unique tag identifier can be used to retrieve the digital gift. Specifically, the method includes associating the unique tag identifier with an electronic gift of a particular monetary value and using a payment portal to charge a financial account an amount equal to the monetary value. The method further includes the gift-transfer application receiving a request including the unique tag identifier to redeem the electronic gift and, in response, sending a plurality of value-allocation links along with respective options for applying the monetary value to an electronic gift card of a respective merchant.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a collapsible virtual reality viewer. Aspects of the viewer include a body portion and a viewing portion, each having a plurality of panels abutting fold lines. The viewer may be folded along the fold lines to move from an expanded configuration to a collapsed configuration when it is not being used. In one aspect, the viewer includes a detachable panel that is removeably coupled to the viewer along a plurality of perforations. Promotional material may be printed on or attached to the detachable panel. In another embodiment, the body portion and the viewing portion are each formed of a unitary construction in which the panels of each portion are die cut from a single piece of material and folded along fold lines to form the body and viewing portions, which are then secured together at one or more locations.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices are provided for altering an appearance of acquaintances when viewed through smart glasses, which may be altered using augmented reality technology. In particular, an embodiment of the invention is directed to allowing users to specify their appearances to others when viewed by others wearing smart glasses. The others viewing the user through smart glasses include friends, family, contacts, or other acquaintances, which may be specified in one or more social networks or contacts databases. The altered appearance that is displayed may be based on the particular relationship between the user and the viewer. For example, a user may appear as a particular superhero to his friends on a social network website, as having a cartoon feature (such as an enormous head) to his children, as normal to his mother and business contacts, and as wearing a Hawaiian shirt to his closest buddies.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices are provided for altering an appearance of acquaintances when viewed through smart glasses, which may be altered using augmented reality technology. In particular, an embodiment of the invention is directed to allowing users to specify their appearances to others when viewed by others wearing smart glasses. The others viewing the user through smart glasses include friends, family, contacts, or other acquaintances, which may be specified in one or more social networks or contacts databases. The altered appearance that is displayed may be based on the particular relationship between the user and the viewer. For example, a user may appear as a particular superhero to his friends on a social network website, as having a cartoon feature (such as an enormous head) to his children, as normal to his mother and business contacts, and as wearing a Hawaiian shirt to his closest buddies.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a collapsible virtual reality viewer. Aspects of the viewer include a body portion and a viewing portion, each having a plurality of panels abutting fold lines. The viewer may be folded along the fold lines to move from an expanded configuration to a collapsed configuration when it is not being used. In one aspect, the viewer includes a detachable panel that is removeably coupled to the viewer along a plurality of perforations. Promotional material may be printed on or attached to the detachable panel. In another embodiment, the body portion and the viewing portion are each formed of a unitary construction in which the panels of each portion are die cut from a single piece of material and folded along fold lines to form the body and viewing portions, which are then secured together at one or more locations.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a collapsible virtual reality viewer. Aspects of the viewer include a body portion and a viewing portion, each having a plurality of panels abutting fold lines. The viewer may be folded along the fold lines to move from an expanded configuration to a collapsed configuration when it is not being used. In one aspect, the viewer includes a detachable panel that is removeably coupled to the viewer along a plurality of perforations. Promotional material may be printed on or attached to the detachable panel. In another embodiment, the body portion and the viewing portion are each formed of a unitary construction in which the panels of each portion are die cut from a single piece of material and folded along fold lines to form the body and viewing portions, which are then secured together at one or more locations.

Abstract: Aspects of the technology described herein provide an activatable postage. As an initial step, the activatable postage is printed on a media, such as an envelope or sticker. Initially, the activatable postage has no postage value and will not have any value until activated. Each instance of activatable postage comprises a unique identifier encoded in a machine-readable format. Postage value is added to the activatable postage through an activation process. In order to activate an individual instance of activatable postage, the unique identifier encoded in the activatable postage needs to be provided to the activation application. At the end of the activation process, a central database is updated to associate the unique identifier with a postal value calculated during activation. When the Postal Service receives an item with activatable postage it validates the activatable postage and then deactivates the activatable postage by updating the central database.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices are provided for altering an appearance of acquaintances when viewed through smart glasses, which may be altered using augmented reality technology. In particular, an embodiment of the invention is directed to allowing users to specify their appearances to others when viewed by others wearing smart glasses. The others viewing the user through smart glasses include friends, family, contacts, or other acquaintances, which may be specified in one or more social networks or contacts databases. The altered appearance that is displayed may be based on the particular relationship between the user and the viewer. For example, a user may appear as a particular superhero to his friends on a social network website, as having a cartoon feature (such as an enormous head) to his children, as normal to his mother and business contacts, and as wearing a Hawaiian shirt to his closest buddies.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices are provided for altering an appearance of acquaintances when viewed through smart glasses, which may be altered using augmented reality technology. In particular, an embodiment of the invention is directed to allowing users to specify their appearances to others when viewed by others wearing smart glasses. The others viewing the user through smart glasses include friends, family, contacts, or other acquaintances, which may be specified in one or more social networks or contacts databases. The altered appearance that is displayed may be based on the particular relationship between the user and the viewer. For example, a user may appear as a particular superhero to his friends on a social network website, as having a cartoon feature (such as an enormous head) to his children, as normal to his mother and business contacts, and as wearing a Hawaiian shirt to his closest buddies.

Abstract: An aspect of the present invention includes a physical gift item that is constructed to include a tag, which includes a unique tag identifier. Using a gift-transfer application, a digital gift can be associated with the unique tag identifier, and the physical gift item can be given to a gift recipient. The gift recipient may then use the unique tag identifier to retrieve the digital gift.

Abstract: An aspect of the present invention includes a physical gift item that is constructed to include an NFC tag. By scanning the NFC tag, a gift-transfer application can be launched, which allows a user to select a digital gift and associate the digital gift with the NFC tag. The physical gift item can be given to another user, who can also scan the NFC tag in order to retrieve the digital gift.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a collapsible virtual reality viewer. Aspects of the viewer include a body portion and a viewing portion, each having a plurality of panels abutting fold lines. The viewer may be folded along the fold lines to move from an expanded configuration to a collapsed configuration when it is not being used. In one aspect, the viewer includes a detachable panel that is removeably coupled to the viewer along a plurality of perforations. Promotional material may be printed on or attached to the detachable panel. In another embodiment, the body portion and the viewing portion are each formed of a unitary construction in which the panels of each portion are die cut from a single piece of material and folded along fold lines to form the body and viewing portions, which are then secured together at one or more locations.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media are provided for using Near Field Communication (NFC) smart “tags” associated with physical objects in conjunction with NFC-enabled devices to associate digital content with physical assets. Digital content is received that is to be associated with an NFC tag associated with a physical object. In embodiments, such digital content may be provided by a purchaser of a physical asset and may include, by way of example only, photographs, videos, audio files, text files, data files, hyperlinks, and the like that are related to a particular event or occasion. The received digital content is stored, in an online environment, in association with a unique identifier associated with the NFC tag. Upon receiving an indication that the NFC tag has been read by an NFC reader associated with a user device, the digital content is provided for presentation in association with the user device.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention use one or more audible tones to communicate metadata during a transfer of an audio file. Embodiments of the present invention communicate an audio file from a speaker in a recording device (e.g., a recordable book, toy, computing device) to a microphone in a receiving device. The audio file is transferred by audibly broadcasting the audio file content. The audio file may be a recording made by the user (e.g., the user singing a song, a child responding to a storybook prompt intended to elicit a response). The file transfer process uses one or more audible tones, such as dual-tone multi-frequency signaling (“DTMF”) tones to communicate metadata associated with the audio file. Audible tones may also be used to communicate commands that delineate the beginning and/or end of a file broadcast.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices are provided for altering an appearance of acquaintances when viewed through smart glasses, which may be altered using augmented reality technology. In particular, an embodiment of the invention is directed to allowing users to specify their appearances to others when viewed by others wearing smart glasses. The others viewing the user through smart glasses include friends, family, contacts, or other acquaintances, which may be specified in one or more social networks or contacts databases. The altered appearance that is displayed may be based on the particular relationship between the user and the viewer. For example, a user may appear as a particular superhero to his friends on a social network website, as having a cartoon feature (such as an enormous head) to his children, as normal to his mother and business contacts, and as wearing a Hawaiian shirt to his closest buddies.