Abstract: The disclosure herein describes coupling a stylus and a computing device. Based on a tip of a stylus being brought proximate to a display of a computing device configured to communicate in accordance with a wireless protocol, the computing device is configured to receive a stylus wireless protocol identifier and transmit a wireless protocol identifier of the computing device and one or more security keys to the stylus via a communication channel in response, whereby the stylus and computing device are coupled. Based on receiving a signal associated with user input from the coupled stylus using the wireless protocol, the computing device performs an operation based on the signal. The described “loose coupling” enables streamlined use of styluses with compatible computing devices without requiring full pairing.

Abstract: A computing device has a digitizer control module configured to monitor signals received by receive electrodes and to detect in the monitored signals a signal from a second touch display of a second computing device in physical proximity to the computing device. The digitizer control module is configured to determine one or more locations on the first touch display at which the signals from the second touch display are received. A processor in the computing device is configured to compute a relative position of the second touch display with respect to the first touch display on the basis of the determined locations, and to use the computed relative position to treat the first touch display and the second touch display as a combined touch display.

Abstract: The disclosure herein describes changing a mode of operation of a computing device using signals from a pen device. The pen device obtains gesture input data from at least one sensor of the pen device and the obtained gesture input data is compared to at least one gesture pattern. Based on the gesture input data matching the at least one gesture pattern, the pen device transitions to an active state. The pen device detects, via an electrostatic communication channel, an uplink signal from the computing device and sends a signal to change a mode of operation of the computing device by at least one of a network interface or a communication channel, other than the electrostatic communication channel. Changing modes of operation of a computing device provides a flexible, stream-lined way to enhance the user experience of using a computing device with a pen device (e.g., performing an initial pairing process).

Abstract: The disclosure is related to context driven interactions between a host computing device having a digitized surface and a client device. During a touch interaction, the host computing device detects a touch on the digitized surface and receives a client identifier from the client device. In an implementation, the host computing device may respond to a touch interaction in a context driven manner. The host computing device may determine an event based on a context of the touch interaction. The context may include, for example, the location (e.g., coordinates) of the touch, the client identifier received during the touch interaction, and an active application on the host computing device during the touch interaction. Based on the determined event, the host computing device may request specific information regarding the client device. The specific information may be selected by the host computing device based on the determined event.

Abstract: The disclosure herein describes coupling a stylus and a computing device. Based on a tip of a stylus being brought proximate to a display of a computing device configured to communicate in accordance with a wireless protocol, the computing device is configured to receive a stylus wireless protocol identifier and transmit a wireless protocol identifier of the computing device and one or more security keys to the stylus via a communication channel in response, whereby the stylus and computing device are coupled. Based on receiving a signal associated with user input from the coupled stylus using the wireless protocol, the computing device performs an operation based on the signal. The described “loose coupling” enables streamlined use of styluses with compatible computing devices without requiring full pairing.

Abstract: The structure and devices described herein provide an improved digital eraser for a stylus. A stylus may have an eraser end that transmits an erase signal from an eraser antenna. A cover houses the eraser antenna and can be configured with varying geometry to selectively position the eraser antenna closer to, or further away from, a digitizer screen of a computing device when the cover is in contact with the digitizer screen. The computing device can detect the signal strength of the erase signal and/or the contact area between the cover and the digitizer screen and vary one or more of the width, area, or opacity of the erase function. The computing device can further, based upon the strength of the signal and/or the contact area between the cover and the digitizer screen, determine the tilt and/or the rotation of the stylus.

Abstract: A touch-sensing display system comprises a contactable display surface in addition to touch-screen, pupil-estimation, user-pointer, and display logic. The touch-screen logic is configured to sense normal coordinates directly behind a point of the user contact on the contactable display surface. The pupil-estimation logic is configured to estimate the vantage vector pointing from the vantage point of the user and through the point of user contact. The user-pointer logic is configured to compute adjusted coordinates of the contactable display surface, the adjusted coordinates being shifted from the normal coordinates based on the estimated vantage vector. The display logic is configured to render a visible feature on the contactable display surface at the adjusted coordinates.

Abstract: A wireless communicator including a housing, wireless communication functionality located within the housing, native user interface functionality cooperating with the wireless communication functionality and including user interface surfaces located on at least one outer facing surface of the housing, and pouching responsive electrical interconnection functionality responsive to pouching orientation of the housing in a pouch of an enhanced function device for automatically causing the wireless communication functionality to adapt to interoperation with parenting user interface functionality forming part of the enhanced function device at least partially instead of with the native user interface functionality. A method is also described and claimed.

Abstract: The disclosure is related to context driven interactions between a host computing device having a digitized surface and a client device. During a touch interaction, the host computing device detects a touch on the digitized surface and receives a client identifier from the client device. In an implementation, the host computing device may respond to a touch interaction in a context driven manner. The host computing device may determine an event based on a context of the touch interaction. The context may include, for example, the location (e.g., coordinates) of the touch, the client identifier received during the touch interaction, and an active application on the host computing device during the touch interaction. Based on the determined event, the host computing device may request specific information regarding the client device. The specific information may be selected by the host computing device based on the determined event.

Abstract: The structure and devices described herein provide an improved digital eraser for a stylus. A stylus may have an eraser end that transmits an erase signal from an eraser antenna. A cover houses the eraser antenna and can be configured with varying geometry to selectively position the eraser antenna closer to, or further away from, a digitizer screen of a computing device when the cover is in contact with the digitizer screen. The computing device can detect the signal strength of the erase signal and/or the contact area between the cover and the digitizer screen and vary one or more of the width, area, or opacity of the erase function. The computing device can further, based upon the strength of the signal and/or the contact area between the cover and the digitizer screen, determine the tilt and/or the rotation of the stylus.

Abstract: A method for synchronized playback of media players, including selecting, by each of a plurality of media players, a multimedia file to be played, monitoring, by each of the plurality of media players, the environment for an external trigger, and upon detection of the external trigger, playing, by each of the plurality of media players, the selected multimedia file.

Abstract: A method includes tracking handwritten letter input with a human interface device, inking the handwritten letter input, identifying the letters and displaying at least one suggested word in-line with the inking. The suggested word is based on the letters identified.

Abstract: A wireless communicator including a housing, wireless communication functionality located within the housing, native user interface functionality cooperating with the wireless communication functionality and including user interface surfaces located on at least one outer facing surface of the housing, and pouching responsive electrical interconnection functionality responsive to pouching orientation of the housing in a pouch of an enhanced function device for automatically causing the wireless communication functionality to adapt to interoperation with parenting user interface functionality forming part of the enhanced function device at least partially instead of with the native user interface functionality. A method is also described and claimed.

Abstract: A wireless communicator with direct USB connection, including a communicator module that connects to and disconnects from a jacket, including a communicator storage memory, a modem for wireless communication, and a communicator connector for connecting the communicator module to the jacket, and a jacket for the communicator module, including a USB disk drive, a jacket connector for connecting the jacket to the communicator module, a USB connector for connecting the jacket to a USB host device, and a controller for enabling the USB host device to access both the communicator storage memory and the jacket USB disk drive when the USB host device is connected to the USB connector, and when the communicator module is connected to the jacket via the communicator and jacket connectors.

Abstract: A mobile phone, including a protocol sniffer for capturing a beacon from a wireless access point, a beacon parser, coupled with the protocol sniffer, for identifying an alert request within the captured beacon, and at least one speaker, coupled with the beacon parser, for sounding an audible alert in response to the beacon parser identifying the alert request.

Abstract: A method for operating a stylus with a digitizer system includes receiving a signal that is repeatedly transmitted by the digitizer system according to a pre-defined protocol of the digitizer system, the protocol being known to the stylus, transmitting position signals in synchronization with the signal transmitted by the digitizer system, and continuing transmission of the position signals over a duration that the stylus receives the repeated transmissions of the digitizer system according to the pre-defined protocol.

Abstract: Devices and methods are described that utilize call idle time. In some cases, a device includes an antenna, a baseband modem connected to the antenna, including a radio frequency interface, a power subsystem, an audio, video, or text player, and a controller connected to the baseband modem, to the power subsystem and to the audio, video, or text player for programmatically operating the cell phone in an idle mode and in a normal mode, whereby in normal mode the cell phone sends and receives voice communications via the baseband modem, and in idle mode the cell phone presents pre-designated content via the audio, video, or text player. In some cases methods are described that detect that a phone conversation has been silenced or that a phone call has not been answered, and activate an idle mode in which pre-designated content is presented, and then, when the call is no longer silenced or the phone call is answered, activate a normal mode in which voice communications are enabled.

Abstract: A wireless communicator, including a modem operable to transmit and receive voice communication phone calls, an accelerometer to measure an angle of orientation, and a controller coupled with the modem and with the accelerometer, the controller being operable to restrict operation of the modem when the wireless communicator is not being used in a low radiation listening mode and the accelerometer indicates a substantially stationary angle of orientation longer than a pre-designated length of time.

Abstract: A notebook computer including a controller for controlling operation of the notebook computer, a pouch in which to insert a cellular communicator, an amplifier connected to the controller, a speaker connected to the amplifier, a power supply connected to the controller, and circuitry, connected to the pouch and to the amplifier, for enabling the amplifier when the controller is powered off, in response to the cellular communicator being inserted in the pouch, and for causing the amplifier to generate a call alert when an incoming call arrives at the cellular communicator while the cellular communicator is inserted in the pouch.

Abstract: A system for finding friends near a friend, including a memory, housed within a mobile device, for storing a contact list including records for a plurality of friends, each record comprising a name of a friend and geographic coordinates of a location of the friend, and a locator for receiving as input the name of a designated friend in the contact list, and for generating as output a list of at least one proximal friend, each proximal friend including the name of a friend, other than the designated friend, whose location is located close to the designated friend's location.