Abstract: A computing device (200) for authenticating a user (110) is provided. The computing device is operative to display a first text (131) to the user, acquire a representation of the user subvocalizing a part of the first text, derive a user phrasing signature from the acquired representation, and authenticate the user in response to determining that the user phrasing signature and a reference phrasing signature fulfil a similarity condition. Optionally, the computing device may be further operative to determine if the user is authorized to read the first text. Further optionally, the computing device may be operative to reveal obfuscated parts of the first text in response to determining that the user is authorized to read the first text, or to discontinue displaying the first text, or to obfuscate at least part of the first text, in response to determining that the user is not authorized to read the first text.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to virtualizing a network function in an ad-hoc group. The ad-hoc group comprises a plurality of mobile terminals that are configured for device-to-device communication, e.g., Proximity-Based Services (ProSe). The ProSe-enabled mobile terminals subscribe to a Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) service with an NFV management server. The NFV management server discovers the ad-hoc group that is suitable for NFV and informs an NFV application server of the ad-hoc group. The NFV application server then downloads data and configuration parameters to the ad-hoc group to offload a network function to the ad-hoc group for execution.

Abstract: A mobile electronic device (device) operating with other devices form a group for wireless coordinated playout of audio media content. The processor performs operations that determine a common time sync shared with the other devices, and determine a timing of occurrence of a sound transient sensed relative to the common time sync. The operations receive timing reports from the other devices, where each of the timing reports indicates a timing of occurrence of the sound transient sensed at a respective one of the other devices relative to the common time sync. The sound transient sensed by the devices is generated at a preferred listening location. The operations coordinate timing of playout of audio media content by the group of devices responsive to comparison of the timing of occurrence of the sound transient sensed by the microphone of the device and the timing of occurrences indicated by the timing reports.

Abstract: A Near-Field Communication (NFC)-enabled constrained device (100) is provided. The constrained device (100) comprises a processing circuit (111) operative to implement a functionality of the constrained device (100), an NFC-interface circuit (115) configured to harvest power transmitted by an NFC-enabled control device (200) and to enable exchange of data with the control device (200), when the devices are in proximity, and a restart circuit (121) configured to accumulate electrical charge using the harvested power received from the NFC-interface circuit (115), and to trigger restart of the processing circuit (111) when the accumulated electrical charge exceeds a threshold level. Further provided is an NFC-enabled control device (200) for restarting the NFC-enabled constrained device (100).

Abstract: A computing device (300) for authenticating a user (110), such as a mobile phone, a smartphone, a tablet, or the like, is provided. The computing device is operative to acquire a representation of a melody generated by the user, and authenticate the user in response to determining that the acquired representation of the user-generated melody and a representation of a reference melody fulfil a similarity condition. The user-generated melody may either be vocalized or subvocalized. If the melody is vocalized, the representation is derived from audio data captured by a microphone (102). If the melody is subvocalized, the representation is derived from nerve signals captured by sensors attached to the throat (111) of the user, or from a video sequence acquired from a camera (103), the video sequence capturing one or more body parts (111-115) of the user subvocalizing the melody, by magnifying motions of the one or more body parts which are correlated with the subvocalized melody.

Abstract: A device for providing a touch-based user interface is disclosed. The device comprises a screen, a camera, and a processor. The camera images a reflection of the screen by a cornea of a user of the device. The processor displays at least one user-interface element on the screen, detects that a finger of a hand touches or is about to touch the screen, estimates a trajectory of the finger, and determines an intended location of touch of the finger on the screen. The trajectory of the finger is estimated by analyzing a sequence of images of the reflection. The intended location of touch is determined based on the estimated trajectory of the finger.

Abstract: A device for handheld operation is provided. The device comprises a touchscreen and processing means operative to display a plurality of user-interface (UI) elements on the touchscreen, wherein each UI element is associated with an action which is performed in response to touching the UI element, determine one or more of the displayed UI elements which a user of the device is likely to touch based on a touch pattern, and perform, for at least one of the determined UI elements, the action associated with the UI element. The action may, e.g., comprise pre-fetching content which is likely to be requested by the user from a server. Performing an action, such as pre-fetching, based on a touch pattern is advantageous since a touch pattern reflects the relative likelihood that the user touches a specific position, or region, of the touchscreen, thereby reducing latency.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to virtualizing a network function in an ad-hoc group. The ad-hoc group comprises a plurality of mobile terminals that are configured for device-to-device communication, e.g., Proximity-Based Services (ProSe). The ProSe-enabled mobile terminals subscribe to a Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) service with an NFV management server. The NFV management server discovers the ad-hoc group that is suitable for NFV and informs an NFV application server of the ad-hoc group. The NFV application server then downloads data and configuration parameters to the ad-hoc group to offload a network function to the ad-hoc group for execution.

Abstract: An input device (100) for a computing device (150) is provided, such as a data glove. The input device (100) comprises motion sensor(s) (103) configured to be worn on a fingertip or fingertips of a user, and actuator(s) (104, 114) configured to restrict motion of the fingertip(s) to be within a three-dimensional shape. The input device (100) is operative to track a position of the fingertip(s) using the motion sensor(s) (103), provide the tracked position as user input to the computing device (150), determine whether the computing device requires user input from the fingertip to be within the three-dimensional shape, and in response thereto, activate the actuator(s) (104, 114) configured to restrict motion of the fingertip(s) to be within the three-dimensional shape if the computing device (150) requires user input from the fingertip(s) to be within the three-dimensional shape.

Abstract: A mobile electronic device (device) operating with other devices form a group for wireless coordinated playout of audio media content. The processor performs operations that determine a common time sync shared with the other devices, and determine a timing of occurrence of a sound transient sensed relative to the common time sync. The operations receive timing reports from the other devices, where each of the timing reports indicates a timing of occurrence of the sound transient sensed at a respective one of the other devices relative to the common time sync. The sound transient sensed by the devices is generated at a preferred listening location. The operations coordinate timing of playout of audio media content by the group of devices responsive to comparison of the timing of occurrence of the sound transient sensed by the microphone of the device and the timing of occurrences indicated by the timing reports.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to virtualizing a network function in an ad-hoc group. The ad-hoc group comprises a plurality of mobile terminals (302, 304) that are configured for device-to-device communication, e.g., Proximity-Based Services (ProSe). The Pro Se-enabled mobile terminals (302, 304) subscribe to a Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) service with an NFV management server (322). The NFV management server (322) discovers the ad-hoc group that is suitable for NFV and informs an NFV application server (324) of the ad-hoc group. The NFV application server (324) then downloads data and configuration parameters to the ad-hoc group to offload a network function to the ad-hoc group for execution.

Abstract: A computing device (200) for authenticating a user (110) is provided. The computing device is operative to display a first text (131) to the user, acquire a representation of the user subvocalizing a part of the first text, derive a user phrasing signature from the acquired representation, and authenticate the user in response to determining that the user phrasing signature and a reference phrasing signature fulfil a similarity condition. Optionally, the computing device may be further operative to determine if the user is authorized to read the first text. Further optionally, the computing device may be operative to reveal obfuscated parts of the first text in response to determining that the user is authorized to read the first text, or to discontinue displaying the first text, or to obfuscate at least part of the first text, in response to determining that the user is not authorized to read the first text.

Abstract: A computing device for authenticating a user is provided. The computing device is operative to display a first text to the user, acquire a representation of the user subvocalizing a part of the first text, derive a user phrasing signature from the acquired representation, and authenticate the user in response to determining that the user phrasing signature and a reference phrasing signature fulfill a similarity condition. Optionally, the computing device may be further operative to determine if the user is authorized to read the first text. Further optionally, the computing device may be operative to reveal obfuscated parts of the first text in response to determining that the user is authorized to read the first text, or to discontinue displaying the first text, or to obfuscate at least part of the first text, in response to determining that the user is not authorized to read the first text.

Abstract: An imaging device comprising a first camera with a controllable focus is provided. The imaging device is operative to detect that a user of the imaging device intends to capture an image of an object using the first camera, control the focus of the first camera to assume a target focal length, and capture the image. The target focal length is derived based on a measured accommodation of an eye lens of the user. Further, a contact lens comprising an eye-accommodation detector and a communications module is provided. The contact lens is operative to measure an accommodation of an eye lens to which the contact lens is attached, and transmit, to an imaging device comprising a first camera with a controllable focus, information pertaining to the measured accommodation of the eye lens and/or a focal length of the eye lens corresponding to the measured accommodation.

Abstract: According to the teachings herein, a method and apparatus are provided for facilitating touch entries to a touchscreen of an electronic device. In particular, the teachings herein facilitate one-handed touch entry, such as where a user operates the touchscreen of the device using a digit of the same hand used to hold the device. Advantageously, an electronic device detects when a user is reaching to make a touch input to the touchscreen and it correspondingly adapts the visual content currently being displayed i.e., the current screen responsive to detecting the reach. Example adaptations include any one or more of shifting, warping and resealing the screen, to bring an estimated touch target within a defined reach extent configured in the electronic device.

Abstract: An input device (100) for a computing device (150) is provided, such as a data glove. The input device (100) comprises motion sensor(s) (103) configured to be worn on a fingertip or fingertips of a user, and actuator(s) (104, 114) configured to restrict motion of the fingertip(s) to be within a three-dimensional shape. The input device (100) is operative to track a position of the fingertip(s) using the motion sensor(s) (103), provide the tracked position as user input to the computing device (150), determine whether the computing device requires user input from the fingertip to be within the three-dimensional shape, and in response thereto, activate the actuator(s) (104, 114) configured to restrict motion of the fingertip(s) to be within the three-dimensional shape if the computing device (150) requires user input from the fingertip(s) to be within the three-dimensional shape.

Abstract: A device for providing a touch-based user interface is disclosed. The device comprises a screen, a camera, and a processor. The camera images a reflection of the screen by a cornea of a user of the device. The processor displays at least one user-interface element on the screen, detects that a finger of a hand touches or is about to touch the screen, estimates a trajectory of the finger, and determines an intended location of touch of the finger on the screen. The trajectory of the finger is estimated by analyzing a sequence of images of the reflection. The intended location of touch is determined based on the estimated trajectory of the finger.

Abstract: A device for handheld operation is provided. The device comprises a touchscreen and processing means operative to display a plurality of user-interface (UI) elements on the touchscreen, wherein each UI element is associated with an action which is performed in response to touching the UI element, determine one or more of the displayed UI elements which a user of the device is likely to touch based on a touch pattern, and perform, for at least one of the determined UI elements, the action associated with the UI element. The action may, e.g., comprise pre-fetching content which is likely to be requested by the user from a server. Performing an action, such as pre-fetching, based on a touch pattern is advantageous since a touch pattern reflects the relative likelihood that the user touches a specific position, or region, of the touchscreen, thereby reducing latency.

Abstract: A device (100) for handheld operation is provided. The device comprises a touchscreen (110) and processing means (111) operative to display a plurality of user-interface (UI) elements (121-124) on the touchscreen, wherein each UI element is associated with an action which is performed in response to touching the UI element, determine one or more of the displayed UI elements which a user (150, 151) of the device is likely to touch based on a touch pattern (130), and perform, for at least one of the determined UI elements, the action associated with the UI element. The action may, e.g., comprise pre-fetching content which is likely to be requested by the user from a server (180). Performing an action, such as pre-fetching, based on a touch pattern is advantageous since a touch pattern reflects the relative likelihood that the user touches a specific position, or region, of the touchscreen, thereby reducing latency.

Abstract: A device for providing a touch-based user interface is disclosed. The device comprises a screen, a camera, and processor. The camera images a reflection of the screen by a cornea of a user of the device. The processor displays at least one user-interface element on the screen, detects that a finger of a hand touches or is about to touch the screen, estimates a trajectory of the finger, and determines an intended location of touch of the finger on the screen. The trajectory of the finger is estimated by analyzing a sequence of images of the reflection. The intended location of touch is determined based on the estimated trajectory of the finger.