Google Inc.

Motorola Mobility LLC

Google Technology Holdings LLC

Amber M Pierce

Michael J Lombardi

Mitul R Patel

John Joseph Gorsica

Natalie J Stevens

Frank H Stone

Morris B Bowers

Adam R Cole

Michael F Spence

Ross W Ripley

Srikanth V Thiruppukuzhi

William G Kastritis

Marjorie M Ollayos

A method includes receiving sound by a first audio unit installed in an electrical outlet, routing audio data corresponding to the received sound from the first audio unit to a second audio unit installed in a second electrical outlet, and sending the audio data to a mobile device using a wireless link between the mobile device and the second audio unit. Routing the audio data may include receiving the audio data from the first audio unit by a third audio unit and routing the audio data to the second audio unit by the third audio unit serving as a router. The data may be routed using table driven routing, on-demand routing or some other appropriate routing protocol. The method may also include performing voice recognition on the audio data and detecting a command word and routing command word data to the second audio unit.

Audio routing system for routing audio data to and from a mobile device

An electronic device has an imaging device (such as a still camera or video camera) and is capable of displaying a viewfinder on one side or multiple sides of the device. The device may determine the side or sides on which to display the viewfinder based on factors such as user input, object proximity, grip detection, accelerometer data, and gyroscope data. In one implementation, the device has multiple imaging devices and can select which imaging device to use to capture an image based on the above factors as well.

Electronic device having pivotably connected sides with selectable displays

A method for operating an electronic device is provided, in which the device detects contact with a user's finger, scans its fingerprint and sets the orientation of the electronic device based on the fingerprint (e.g., whether is from the user's left hand or right hand) and on an angle of the fingerprint with respect to the device. This allows the electronic device to determine its orientation with respect to the user rather than with respect to the environment.

Electronic device with a fingerprint reader and method for operating the same

An electronic device has a combination touch sensor (such as a fingerprint reader) and mechanical switch (actuated, for example, by a button press). The electronic device carries out various functions according to whether the touch sensor is being touched, the mechanical switch is being actuated, the electronic device is face up or face down, the state of the electronic device (awake or in sleep mode), and the function that the electronic device is currently carrying out.

Electronic device with a touch sensor and method for operating the same

A method and apparatus for activating a hardware feature of an electronic device includes the electronic device detectinga predetermined motion of the electronic device and measuring, in response to detecting the predetermined motion, an orientation of the electronic device. The method further includes the electronic device activating, based on the orientation, a hardware feature from a plurality of selectable hardware features of the electronic device, wherein each selectable hardware feature can be activated based on different orientations of the electronic device.

Method and apparatus for activating a hardware feature of an electronic device

Electronic device having multiple sides

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Evanston, IL, United States of America

Amber M Pierce