Abstract: A touch sensitive screen mobile information apparatus having a wireless communication unit for wireless device discovery is herein disclosed. Close proximity wireless device discovery is enabled by wireless searching near distance via radio frequency field for a wireless device, receiving information from the wireless device over the near distance wireless communication, and storing the received information at the information apparatus for future wireless connections. Authentication or pairing of devices may be eliminated due to close proximity of the direct wireless device discovery. After wireless device discovery, the information apparatus and the wireless device may become locked or paired for subsequent wireless communication over any number of wireless communication protocols or standards (e.g., Bluetooth, IEEE 802.11, 2.4GHz) without the need to repeat wireless discovery or pairing. Examples of information apparatus include smart phones, digital camera, laptops, or information pads.

Abstract: A portable communication device for phone calling is herein disclosed and enabled. The portable communication device includes a USB interface for connecting to an external USB port of a computing device for enabling phone calling services using the portable communication device. Upon connecting the portable communication device to the external USB port of the computing device, a phone calling software component or data stored in the portable communication device may execute for enabling phone calling services. The portable communication device may also include one or more ports, and may include an interface for Ethernet connection for connecting to the Internet and for making phone calls without the need for connecting the portable communication device to the external USB port. The portable communication device may further include a Wi-Fi wireless component for local wireless communication, and may be implemented as an adapter-sized dongle for providing phone calling services.

Abstract: The specification of smart televisions are herein disclosed and enabled. The smart television is a wireless television that includes a wireless communication unit compatible, at least partly, with a protocol within IEEE 802.11, and may include Bluetooth compatibility. The smart television may render digital content received from a wireless mobile information apparatus over the wireless communication unit. The smart television includes an operating system for enabling installation of additional applications for expanding functionalities of the smart television; an output controller for decoding, decompressing, or decrypting the digital content; an image processor for applying one or more of a color, an image enhancement, or a resolution operation; and an output engine for rendering the digital content to a display or a projection medium. The wireless television may further include a touch sensitive display screen for interacting with users.

Abstract: Smart phones are herein disclosed and enabled. The smart phones include a graphical user interface, a touch sensitive screen, a digital camera, and a wireless communication unit compatible with Bluetooth® and/or IEEE 802.11 standards. The user may install additional applications to the smart phones. In one example, the smart phones may connect wirelessly to a Bluetooth® wireless audio output device. To setup a wireless Bluetooth® connection, the smart phone may provide an interface over the touch sensitive screen, wirelessly discover one or more wireless devices for user selection, and lock a wireless communication link between the smart phone and the selected wireless audio output device. A password or code may be required for establishing connection. Thereafter, a security key or identity of the wireless audio output device may be stored in the smart phones to facilitate future connections. The smart phones may also support direct wireless communication based on IEEE 802.11 standards.

Abstract: A wireless printer for rendering digital content received from wireless information apparatus is herein disclosed and enabled. The wireless printer includes a wireless communication unit compatible with at least part of a protocol within IEEE 802.11 or Bluetooth. The wireless printer may access and connect to a local area wireless network for wireless connection, or may communicate directly with the wireless information apparatus via direct wireless communication. The wireless printer may wirelessly broadcast an indication of the wireless printer to the wireless information apparatus for selection and service. The wireless printer may include an output controller for decoding output data; an image processor for image processing the output data; a marking engine for printing an image onto a substrate; and may further include an operating system that enables installation of additional applications for expanding or updating the functionalities of the wireless printer.

Abstract: A portable electronic device that includes a touch screen display and a wireless communication circuitry operable at least partly in the 2.4 GHz frequency band is disclosed and enabled. The portable electronic device includes features for searching output devices using the wireless communication circuitry; displaying on the touch screen display a list identifying one or more output devices found by the searching; receiving an input supplied to the touch screen display for selecting a selected output device; and subsequently, receiving, from at least the selected output device, via the wireless communication circuitry, an output device attribute; configuring an output stream using the output device attribute; and transmitting, via the wireless communication circuitry, the configured output stream to the selected output device. The output device may be a display device, a television, a printer, an audio device, or an external controller connectable to a television.

Abstract: A touch sensitive screen mobile information apparatus having a wireless communication unit for wireless device discovery is herein disclosed. Close proximity wireless device discovery is enabled by wireless searching near distance via radio frequency field for a wireless device, receiving information from the wireless device over the near distance wireless communication, and storing the received information at the information apparatus for future wireless connections. Authentication or pairing of devices may be eliminated due to close proximity of the direct wireless device discovery. After wireless device discovery, the information apparatus and the wireless device may become locked or paired for subsequent wireless communication over any number of wireless communication protocols or standards (e.g., Bluetooth, IEEE 802.11, 2.4GHz) without the need to repeat wireless discovery or pairing. Examples of information apparatus include smart phones, digital camera, laptops, or information pads.

Abstract: A wireless controller for accessing digital content and connectable externally via a wired connection to output devices, such as televisions, projectors, audio output devices, and printers, is herein disclosed and enabled. The wireless controller may be a box for connecting to a television. To illustrate, connecting the wireless controller to a television makes the television a smart television for accessing digital content via the wireless controller. The wireless controller includes a wireless communication unit that is compatible with at least one protocol within IEEE 802.11 or Bluetooth for accessing a wireless local area network and may establish wireless connections with mobile information apparatus in its vicinity. Subsequent to establishing the wireless connection, the mobile information apparatus may transmit, stream, or mirror digital content to the output devices over the established wireless connection.

Abstract: A portable USB device that enables mobile Internet accessing service is disclosed. The portable USB can be plugged into an external USB port of a computing device for enabling the Internet accessing service. Subsequent to receiving the Internet accessing service by the computing device via the portable USB device, the computing device may further share the Internet with other wireless devices over a local area network (e.g., network compatible, at least partly, with IEEE 802 standards). The portable USB device may include a wireless component and may further include wireless communication software or data for running at the computing device. The Internet accessing service may employ security data stored in a memory area of the portable USB device for enabling service verification or for security. The portable USB device may also be a non-wireless device connectable to a USB port for enabling phone calling.

Abstract: Wireless synchronization of data or software components over a wireless local area network (WLAN) compatible, at least partly, with IEEE802.11, are herein disclosed and enabled. An information apparatus, such as a laptop, a smart phone, an information pad, or digital camera, may access a WLAN for wireless synchronization with other wireless devices. To set up the wireless synchronization, the user connects the information apparatus to a wireless device over a wired connection (e.g., USB) and selects the wireless device for synchronization. Information associated with the wireless device is saved in the information apparatus. Next, the user connects the information apparatus to the WLAN and, depending on the availability of the wireless device in the WLAN, the information apparatus may lock a wireless connection to the wireless device for wireless synchronization. Operations of the wireless synchronization over the WLAN may be facilitated by a client application in the information apparatus.

Abstract: Smart television systems and methods for rendering digital content accessed from over the Internet is disclosed. The smart television system is a device that may include an operating system, and one or more applications installed or installable for accessing digital content over the Internet. The method may include providing security or authentication information to one or more servers over the Internet, providing payment or subscription information to the one or more servers, selecting a reference from a list of references to digital content, and providing, to the one or more servers, a content object that includes the selected reference to digital content. Subsequently, the smart television system may receive, from the one or more servers over the Internet, the digital content corresponding to the selected reference to digital content for rendering. The smart television system may further include a touch sensitive screen.

Abstract: Digital content rendering services provided over the Internet are disclosed. The service enables multiple concurrent users to log on and access server and applications in separate and protected sessions. The server may receive content objects and instructions for manipulating the content with an information apparatus operated by a user. The server may further receive job objects including at least one of authentication, payment, and subscription information. The server may generate output data related to the rendering job and the content, and send the output data to an output controller or media box, internally included or externally connected, to an output device for rendering, the output device may be a television, a display device, a sound device, or a printer. The service may send service confirmation to the information apparatus. The service may also store user's digital content at a node over the Internet for later access by the user.

Abstract: Autorun functionality is incorporated into an integrated circuit memory device such as any USB peripheral, which has a memory component interfaced to a USB microcontroller. This provides autorun of one or more executables or application installers from a memory component with a USB interface without an intermediate hardware-based autorun feature. USB peripheral devices internally include a USB microcontroller that performs the functionality associated with identifying the device to a host computing device, such as a personal computer. Autorun firmware is embedded into the USB microcontroller. The autorun firmware enables autorun of an installable or executable application stored on the memory component of the USB device. The firmware acts as bridge component translating all commands and interactions between a host PC and the memory component.

Abstract: A hot beverage maker is provided for making latte by frothing milk in a carafe before and/or while brewing coffee and directing the brewed coffee into the carafe for mixing with the frothed milk. An agitating element, extends downwardly from a frothing motor attached to the cover of a carafe into the carafe for frothing milk while coffee is being brewed in a brew head of the beverage maker. Brewed coffee is directed into the milk as it is being frothed and is mixed with the milk by the frothing elements to make latte. A lever assembly is selectively movable between an “On” and “Off” position. In the “On” position, terminal pins are moved into contact with terminal plates on the carafe cover to provide electricity to the frothing motor. In the ‘Off position, the terminal pins are moved away from contact with the terminal plates.

Abstract: A portable communication device for phone calling is herein disclosed and enabled. The portable communication device may include a USB interface for connecting to an external USB port of a computing device for making phone calls using the portable communication device. Upon connecting the portable communication device to the external USB port of the computing device, at least part of a phone calling software component stored in the portable communication device may execute at the computing device for enabling phone calling through the portable communication device. The portable communication device may further include an Ethernet interface for enabling Ethernet connection, and upon connecting the Ethernet interface to the Ethernet connection, the portable communication device is operable for accessing the Internet and for making phone calls through the portable communication device, without having the portable communication device being connected to an external USB port of a computing device.

Abstract: Next generation pervasive wireless ecosystems and mobile information apparatus are herein disclosed and enabling millions of users to migrate to pervasive digital living and enterprise. Wireless communications may include the mobile information apparatus accessing wireless local area network or by direct wireless communication. The mobile information apparatus may include a wireless unit compatible with Bluetooth and/or IEEE802.11. Mobile information apparatus may conduct a local area wireless search within short distances for discovering wireless devices in its vicinity, receive an attribute related to the discovered wireless device, establish secure wireless communication with the discovered wireless device, and transfer or synchronize digital content or applications to/from the discovered wireless device. The discovered wireless device may be other mobile apparatus, wireless televisions, wireless audio devices, wireless speakers, wireless printers, among others, in a digital living room or office.

Abstract: An integrated circuit microcontroller supporting Autorun of software or data is disclosed. The integrated circuit microcontroller can be included in a memory device, the memory device may be a USB dongle, a SD card, a flash drive, a wireless dongle or others that are connectable by a user to a computing device for running application or data stored in the memory device. The memory device may include a private memory component storing private or security data. The private or security data may be associated with computing or application software running or providing services on the computing device. The private or security data may protect the usage of or the services provided by the computing or application software. The computing device may include mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras, laptops, desktops, appliances etc. Exemplary services may include Internet access, wireless connectivity, phone calling, content access or content sharing.

Abstract: Methods using a portable USB communication device that is plug connectable to an external USB port of a first computing device for enabling phone calling. Upon plug connecting the portable communication device to the first computing device, a phone calling application running at the first computing device is enabled by employing at least in part a phone calling software component stored in the portable communication device. The portable communication device includes a controller unit to facilitate installation of at least part of phone calling software for running at the computing device. Subsequent to disconnecting from the first computing device, the user may also alternatively connect the portable communication device to an Ethernet port of a second computing device for enabling Internet access and phone calling without the first computing device.

Abstract: Methods using a portable USB communication device that is plug connectable to an external USB port of a first computing device for enabling phone calling. Upon plug connecting the portable communication device to the first computing device, a phone calling application running at the first computing device is enabled by employing at least in part a phone calling software component stored in the portable communication device. The portable communication device includes a controller unit to facilitate installation of at least part of phone calling software for running at the computing device. Subsequent to disconnecting from the first computing device, the user may also alternatively connect the portable communication device to an Ethernet port of a second computing device for enabling Internet access and phone calling without the first computing device.

Abstract: An Internet-Pad is disclosed and enabled. The Internet-Pad is a mobile digital Pad with access to Internet. The product specification of the Internet-Pad may include a digital camera, a touch sensitive screen, a graphical user interface over the touch sensitive screen, an e-mail application, an editing application, an Internet browsing application, an Internet-Pad operating system, and a wireless communication unit for accessing a wireless network. The e-mail application including a GUI with icons over the touch sensitive screen for selection. The Internet-Pad operating system may provide an object model or an application programming interface (API) to facilitate one or more applications to run at the Internet-Pad. The Internet-Pad may include applications for managing digital documents, audio digital content, or video digital content for rendering or playing. The digital content may be encoded, encrypted, or compressed.