Abstract: Recognizable visual and/or audio artifacts, such as recognizable sounds, are introduced into visual and/or audio content in an identifying pattern to generate a signed visual and/or audio recording for distribution over a digital communications medium. A library of images and/or sounds may be provided, and the image and/or sounds from the library may be selectively inserted to generate the identifying pattern. The images and/or sounds may be inserted responsive to one or more parameters associated with creation of the visual and/or audio content. A representation of the identifying pattern may be generated and stored in a repository, e.g., an independent repository configured to maintain creative rights information. The stored pattern may be retrieved from the repository and compared to an unidentified visual and/or audio recording to determine an identity thereof.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for implementing an ad-hoc, autonomous communications network is provided. The method includes activating a power supply for a first article embedded with communications components. The power supply is generated by at least one of a power source of the communications components and a power generator of the communications components that is implemented via active motion of the first article. The method also includes broadcasting a transmission event via the first article for a time period less than or equal to the life of the power supply. The method further includes detecting a communications node within a proximity of the first article, the communications node receiving the transmission event.

Abstract: Systems, methods and computer program products are provided for matching a passenger with a driver for a trip to a destination. Characteristic information about a plurality of drivers is received and a plurality of selection criteria are received from the passenger. A request for the trip is received from the passenger. One of the drivers is automatically identified as a candidate driver for the trip based on the selection criteria and the characteristic information responsive to the received request. Contact information is provided to the passenger and/or the identified candidate driver to match the passenger with the identified candidate driver. One or more of the drivers may be transportation service providing companies and the request for the trip may be a reservation request for a planned trip at a scheduled time in the future and the reservation request may include a date and/or time defining the scheduled time in the future.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for providing multi-viewpoint media collaboration services is provided. The method includes receiving a first feed of content from a communications device. The first feed of content represents at least a portion of a primary event taken from a point of view of the communications device. The primary event is broken down into logical content segments. The method also includes receiving a second feed of content from the communications device. The second feed of content represents a collateral event. The method further includes time synchronizing the first and second feeds of content with the primary event, classifying the first and second feeds of content by point of view with respect to each of the logical content segments resulting in a content mix, and providing access to the content mix.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for implementing virtual posting services. Methods include receiving content from a communications device located in a geographic proximity that is serviced by an access node, storing the content in a storage device that is in communication with the access node, and tracking an amount of time the content item is stored. If the amount of time does not reach a pre-established threshold, the methods include transmitting the content to another communications device in response to detecting the presence of the other communications device within the geographic proximity.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for providing multi-viewpoint media content services is provided. The method includes receiving a feed of content from at least one communications device that is observing an event from a specified viewpoint and/or relaying the feed of content received from another communications device. The method also includes classifying the content according to a viewpoint identifier and a content identifier. The content identifier specifies a defined portion of the event. The method further includes providing access to user-selectable viewpoints of the content via a corresponding viewpoint identifier and content identifier. Content of selected viewpoints is modifiable for creating customized content.

Abstract: Stylized digital content is rapidly created by reading a first file and a plurality of second files. The first file contains a digital content item and each second file contains at least one style definition. At least one display instance of stylized digital content is created by applying the style definition of one of the plurality of second files to the digital content item of the first file. The at least one display instance is mapped to a location on the display device. A location is received from a pointing device and one of the plurality of display instances is displayed based on the received location.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments relate to methods, systems, and computer program products for providing personalized information services. Methods include generating an instance of personalized information including time-sensitive elements, and outputting the personalized information onto a medium that is affixable to a subject with which the personalized information is associated.

Abstract: A disposable electronic device includes a housing, a user interface in the housing and a short range, unlicensed wireless transceiver in the housing. A controller is configured to control the user interface and the short range, unlicensed wireless transceiver. A non-replaceable, non-rechargeable battery also is provided in the housing. New forms of disposable, proximity-based communications systems, devices and methods thereby may be provided.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for providing communications services. One method receives a request for communications service. The request for communications service originates from a client communications device, and the request for communications service is communicated to a service provider of a communications network. A preferred scenario of segmentation, dispersion, and assemblage of electronic data is dynamically ascertained to fulfill the request. The method then bills for the communications service.

Abstract: A user-programmable audio alert system, device, and method includes an audio alert created by a user and programmed into a device, such as a wireless telephone. A user programs and stores in the device a data structure relating an audio alert triggering event to the audio alert. When the device detects an occurrence of the particular audio alert triggering event, the device emits the audio alert related to the triggering event. As such, users are able to customize audio alerts that are easily recognizable and that are associated with a particular event, or signal. Audio alerts can be programmed using different devices and in various formats and can be transmitted to other devices. An audio alert triggering event can modulate an audio alert according to an external variable.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide for the creation of vehicle sound fonts, for utilizing the vehicle sound fonts to augment the engine sounds of a vehicle, and for establishing a network for sharing and controlling the playback of vehicle sound fonts and other media. The systems install in automobiles and play simulated engine sounds of other recorded vehicles in a controlled manner synchronized with the engine spark frequency of the playback vehicle. Automobiles with these systems may network together to share media and to coordinate playback in a synchronized manner among all vehicles of the network.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for translating text to speech. One such method receives content for translation to speech, identifies a textual sequence in the content, and correlates the textual sequence to a phrase. A voice file storing multiple phrases is accessed, with the voice file mapping each phrase to a corresponding sequential string of phonemes. The sequential string of phonemes, corresponding to the phrase, is retrieved and processed when translating the textual sequence to speech.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of the invention include methods, systems, and storage mediums for optimizing a device. The method includes detecting a suboptimal condition associated with the device and analyzing the suboptimal condition in light of selected operator preferences and device-related data. In response to the analysis, the method includes modifying a configuration of the device, the current state of said device, a current state of a networked device associated with said device, or a configuration of a networked device associated with said device. Alternatively, in response to the analyzing, the method includes notifying the operator of the suboptimal condition. The selected operator preferences include at least one of personality settings, expert level settings, communications means settings, intrusion level settings, and reactive/predictive settings.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and a storage medium for storing and securely transmitting digital media data in a networked system are provided. The method includes determining an amount of memory for storing the digital media data. The method further includes querying a plurality of network computers to determine an amount of available memory in a plurality of memory storage devices associated with the plurality of network computers. The method further includes receiving the digital media data and partitioning the digital media data into a plurality of digital media data sets. The method further includes encrypting the plurality of digital media data sets into a plurality of encrypted digital media data sets using at least one encryption key value. The method further includes storing the plurality of encrypted digital media data sets in at least two of the plurality of memory storage devices associated with the plurality of network computers.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of the invention relate to methods, systems, and storage mediums for providing multi-viewpoint, media-sharing activities related to proximity-centric media content associated with an event whereby the media-sharing activities are performed via portable communications devices. The method includes identifying an alternate feed of media content by a first portable communications device that was captured by a second portable communications device at the event. The method also includes performing real-time auditioning of the media content by the first portable communications device for assessing a vantage point of the media content with respect to the event. The method further includes receiving the alternate feed of media content at the first portable communications device in response to a request transmitted by the first portable communications device. The first portable communications device and the second portable communications device are in geographic propinquity of the event.

Abstract: Systems and methods for obtaining an offer for a sale of a desired product or a service are provided. The method includes iteratively transmitting a first signal including a first data message using a mobile transceiver device. Each of the first data messages includes information relating to the desired product or service. The method further includes receiving at least one of the first signals having the first data message and determining whether a product or service provider has the desired product or service available for sale. Finally, the method includes transmitting a second signal including a second data message to the mobile transceiver device. The second data message includes an offer to sell the desired product or service.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for providing communications services. One method receives a first data stream at a computer, with the first data stream comprising packets of data packetized according to a packet protocol. The first data stream is recursively segmented into segments, and at least one of the segments is dispersed via a network for a subsequent processing service. A result of the processing service is received, and the result is aggregated into a second data stream. The second data stream is then communicated via the network.

Abstract: A system and method of generating data sets associated with an entity is provided. The method includes determining when the entity selects a first service or product. The method further includes generating a first data set having a first attribute associated with the first service or product. The method further includes determining when the entity selects a second service or product. The method further includes generating a second data set having a second attribute associated with the second service or product. Finally, the method includes generating a third data set based on the first and second attributes when a portion of data associated with the first attribute is substantially similar to a portion of data associated with the second attribute.

Abstract: A system and method for generating a collection of speech generation commands associated with computer readable information is provided. The method includes partitioning the computer readable information into at least first and second portions of computer readable information. The method further includes generating a first collection of speech generation commands based on the first portion of computer readable information in a first computer. Finally, the method includes generating a second collection of speech generation commands based on the second portion of computer readable information in a second computer.