Abstract: Methods and apparatus for accessing data objects stored in a communication device are disclosed. An exemplary method comprises detecting a trigger event related to a remote communications party, retrieving contact data from a contacts database using a party identifier corresponding to the remote communications party, searching for stored data objects associated with the remote communications party, using the contact data as search parameters, and displaying the results of the search. The method may further include ranking the data objects by relevancy and formatting the display according to the ranking.

Abstract: A mobile device comprises a network communication system such as a wide area network mobile telephony system, a camera for capturing a digital photograph, and a photograph management application. The photograph management application receives the digital photograph, obtains an information record comprising information related to the digital photograph; and associates at least a portion of the information related to the digital photograph with the digital photograph. The information record may be obtained from local sources such as a contact directory or from a remote directory server.

Abstract: A server provides an information record comprising selected information related to an image depicted in a digital photograph. The server may comprise a database and a recognition application. The database may store, in association with each of a plurality of subject matters: i) recognition data for recognizing the subject matter within an image; and ii) information related to the subject matter. The recognition application may receive a request from a remote client system. The request comprises a digital image embodying at least a portion of a digital photograph. The recognition application applies recognition data to the digital image to determine a selected subject matter. The selected subject matter is the subject matter depicted in the digital image. The recognition application further obtains selected information from the database. The selected information may be the information related to the selected subject matter. A response is then returned to the remote client system.

Abstract: A method and device for distributing an event to more than one electronic device comprising receiving the event on a first electronic device, determining whether the first electronic device is connected to at least one other electronic device, and forwarding the event to the at least one other electronic device if connected.

Abstract: A portable network device authorizes a payment services system to execute a payment transaction from a payer account associated with the portable network device to a merchant's payee account. The portable network device comprises a network communication system, a user interface, and a payment application. The payment application obtains a merchant ID code associated with a position of the portable network device. The merchant ID code identifies the merchant's payee account. The payment application drives the user interface of the portable network device to obtain user confirmation of a payment transaction to the merchant's payee account and drives the network communication system to authorize the payment services system to execute the payment transaction from the payer account associated with the portable network device to the merchant's payee account. In one embodiment, a receiver may detect a local broadcast of the merchant ID code.

Abstract: A mobile electronic device which may prompt a user to authenticate to the mobile electronic device by drawing a graphic symbol, such as a signature, using the mobile electronic device. An acceleration module generates an acceleration signal representing user motion of the mobile electronic device. A lock circuit for enables operation of a function of the mobile electronic device in response to the acceleration signal indicating that the user motion deviates from reference motion data by no more than a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hotspot location database system and a method for creating, maintaining and updating such a system. A hotspot location database (6) is created locally in a mobile terminal (1). The mobile terminal is adapted to monitor locations of available hotspots and store information in its local database (6). The mobile terminal is also adapted to monitor the presence of other mobile terminals (9) using a local connectivity network, in order to share information with the other mobile terminals by exchanging information for update of their local databases. The invention also relates to such a mobile terminal for use in the system.