Abstract: An electronic payment system is for a merchant server to transfer funds from a purchaser account to a merchant account, the merchant server to send a merchant transaction identification (ID) and transaction information. The electronic payment system includes a mobile wireless communications device to send a purchaser transaction ID and purchaser account access information. A payment processor server is to receive the purchaser transaction ID and purchaser account access information, and is also to send the transaction information to the mobile wireless communications device if the merchant transaction ID matches the purchaser transaction ID. The mobile wireless communications device is also to send confirmation of the transaction information to the payment processor server. The payment processor server is also to effect a transfer of funds from the purchaser account to the merchant account based upon the confirmation of the transaction information and the purchaser account access information.

Abstract: An electronic payment system is for a merchant server to transfer funds from a purchaser account to a merchant account, the merchant server to send a merchant transaction identification (ID) and transaction information. The electronic payment system includes a mobile wireless communications device to send a purchaser transaction ID and purchaser account access information. A payment processor server is to receive the purchaser transaction ID and purchaser account access information, and is also to send the transaction information to the mobile wireless communications device if the merchant transaction ID matches the purchaser transaction ID. The mobile wireless communications device is also to send confirmation of the transaction information to the payment processor server. The payment processor server is also to effect a transfer of funds from the purchaser account to the merchant account based upon the confirmation of the transaction information and the purchaser account access information.

Abstract: An electronic payment system is for a point-of-sale (POS) device to transfer funds from a purchaser account to a merchant account. The POS device is to send a merchant transaction identification (ID) and transaction information. The electronic payment system includes a mobile wireless communications device to send a purchaser transaction ID and purchaser account access information. A payment processor server is to receive the purchaser transaction ID and purchaser account access information, and further configured to send the transaction information to the mobile wireless communications device if the merchant transaction ID matches the purchaser transaction ID. The mobile wireless communications device also sends confirmation of the transaction information to the payment processor server, and also effects a transfer of funds from the purchaser account to the merchant account based upon the confirmation of the transaction information and the purchaser account access information.

Abstract: A method performed by a mobile device entails determining a current location of the mobile device, storing the current location as a breadcrumb (recorded) location of the mobile device, and performing an action with respect to the breadcrumb location when the mobile device has moved away from the breadcrumb location. The action may entail sharing the breadcrumb location with another device. Reverse geocoded address information may be provided for the breadcrumb locations.

Abstract: A method of magnifying a portion of a map displayed on a computing device includes displaying the map at a first zoom level and displaying a magnified portion of the map at a second zoom level. The magnified portion comprises an interactive map element. The magnified portion acts as a localized map magnifier. The magnified portion may be round to resemble a virtual magnifying glass. In certain implementations, multiple map magnifiers may be displayed simultaneously. Map magnifiers may be displayed, for example, at waypoints along a route, at map markers corresponding to points of interest or at the locations associated with search results.

Abstract: A method of managing place data for a mobile device, the method comprising storing place data for a place in a centralized place database and receiving input to specify which one or more applications on the mobile device are to have access to the place data for the place. In response to a place data request from a data-requesting application executing on the mobile device, the device determines if the data-requesting application has access to the place data for the place and provides the place data to the data-requesting application only if the data-requesting application has access. This technology enables the device to control the sharing of place data among applications on the device.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, and system for determining geofence data based on estimated time of arrival are provided. At a computing device, geofence data is determined, wherein geographic boundaries associated with the geofence data are based on a given estimated time of arrival (ETA) from one of the given location and a current location of a handheld communication device. Given location data associated with the given location is transmitted to the handheld communication device, via a communication interface, when the current location of the handheld communication device and the given location are each within the geographic boundaries such that the handheld communication device is transportable to the given location within the given estimated time of arrival.

Abstract: A method of managing place data for a mobile device, the method comprising storing place data for the mobile device in a centralized place data store, the centralized place data store storing location data for each of a plurality of places defined by the mobile device, and in response to place data requests from a plurality of applications executing on the mobile device, providing the place data from the centralized place data store to the plurality of applications.

Abstract: A method of managing place data for a mobile device, the method comprising storing place data for the mobile device in a centralized place data store, the centralized place data store storing location data for each of a plurality of places defined by the mobile device, and in response to place data requests from a plurality of applications executing on the mobile device, providing the place data from the centralized place data store to the plurality of applications.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of presenting place-related content on a computing device entails, in response to receiving input identifying a place, obtaining place-related content for the place from a place database that stores place-related data related to each one of a plurality of places and presenting the place-related content from the place database in a consolidated place-specific view. This technology provides a place-centric view that presents a consolidated view of place-related content for a selected place.

Abstract: A method of managing place data for a mobile device, the method comprising storing place data for a place in a centralized place database and receiving input to specify which one or more applications on the mobile device are to have access to the place data for the place. In response to a place data request from a data-requesting application executing on the mobile device, the device determines if the data-requesting application has access to the place data for the place and provides the place data to the data-requesting application only if the data-requesting application has access. This technology enables the device to control the sharing of place data among applications on the device.

Abstract: Example methods and apparatus to display mobile device contexts are disclosed. An example method includes displaying a first context in a user interface of a mobile device based on first device platform information, the first context including a first arrangement of information, graphics, and application icons that are associated with the first device platform information, determining that second device platform information received after the first device platform information corresponds to a second context, the second context being different from the first context and including a second arrangement of information, graphics, and applications that are associated with the second device platform information, and displaying the second context in the user interface replacing the first context without prompting a user of the mobile device.

Abstract: A method performed by a mobile device entails determining a current location of the mobile device, storing the current location as a breadcrumb (recorded) location of the mobile device, and performing an action with respect to the breadcrumb location when the mobile device has moved away from the breadcrumb location. The action may entail sharing the breadcrumb location with another device. Reverse geocoded address information may be provided for the breadcrumb locations.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, and system for determining geofence data based on estimated time of arrival are provided. At a computing device, geofence data is determined, wherein geographic boundaries associated with the geofence data are based on a given estimated time of arrival (ETA) from one of the given location and a current location of a handheld communication device. Given location data associated with the given location is transmitted to the handheld communication device, via a communication interface, when the current location of the handheld communication device and the given location are each within the geographic boundaries such that the handheld communication device is transportable to the given location within the given estimated time of arrival.

Abstract: A computer-implemented place-recognition method comprises searching text for a place-indicating text string (word or character), identifying a place reference from the text based on the place-indicating text string, and looking up the place reference in a place database to determine if the place reference corresponds to a place for which place data is stored in the place database. If the place is already in the database, a menu of user-selectable actions may be presented. If the place is not in the database, the device may ask the user whether the place should be added to the database. Searching the text may also comprise searching the text for one of a plurality of frequent search terms. If a place reference corresponding to a frequent search term is in the database, the place is linked. If not, the place is still linked but only for local search.

Abstract: A computer-implemented place-recognition method comprises searching text for a place-indicating text string (word or character), identifying a place reference from the text based on the place-indicating text string, and looking up the place reference in a place database to determine if the place reference corresponds to a place for which place data is stored in the place database. If the place is already in the database, a menu of user-selectable actions may be presented. If the place is not in the database, the device may ask the user whether the place should be added to the database. Searching the text may also comprise searching the text for one of a plurality of frequent search terms. If a place reference corresponding to a frequent search term is in the database, the place is linked. If not, the place is still linked but only for local search.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of presenting place-related content on a computing device entails, in response to receiving input identifying a place, obtaining place-related content for the place from a place database that stores place-related data related to each one of a plurality of places and presenting the place-related content from the place database in a consolidated place-specific view. This technology provides a place-centric view that presents a consolidated view of place-related content for a selected place.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of presenting place-related content on a computing device entails, in response to receiving input identifying a place, obtaining place-related content for the place from a place database that stores place-related data related to each one of a plurality of places and presenting the place-related content from the place database in a consolidated place-specific view. This technology provides a place-centric view that presents a consolidated view of place-related content for a selected place.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, and system for determining geofence data based on estimated time of arrival are provided. At a computing device, geofence data is determined, wherein geographic boundaries associated with the geofence data are based on a given estimated time of arrival (ETA) from one of the given location and a current location of a handheld communication device. Given location data associated with the given location is transmitted to the handheld communication device, via a communication interface, when the current location of the handheld communication device and the given location are each within the geographic boundaries such that the handheld communication device is transportable to the given location within the given estimated time of arrival.

Abstract: A method of managing place data for a mobile device, the method comprising storing place data for the mobile device in a centralized place data store, the centralized place data store storing location data for each of a plurality of places defined by the mobile device, and in response to place data requests from a plurality of applications executing on the mobile device, providing the place data from the centralized place data store to the plurality of applications.