Apple Inc.

Andy Belk

Thomas M Alsina

Joakim Linde

Augustin Prats

Lucas Christopher Newman

Nicholas James Paulson

Christopher Brooke Sharp

Karl Martin Groethe

Stuart Slack

Thomas Matthieu Alsina

Techniques for automatically configuring and controlling a digital media device are described. A digital media device can be configured or controlled by a mobile device, e.g., a smart mobile phone. When the digital media device is being configured, the digital media device can broadcast a signal, indicating that the digital media device is requesting configuration information from a mobile device. A mobile device located in proximity of the digital media device, upon detecting the signal, can perform various security checks to determine that the request is legitimate, and then open a communication channel with the digital media device. The mobile device can provide user preferences of the mobile device, as well as credentials for accessing and downloading remote content, to the digital media device through the communication channel. Upon receiving the configuration information, the digital media device can use parameters in the configuration information as its settings.

Controlling a media device using a mobile device

A system includes a server site that includes a memory for storing update data sets that correspond to data sets stored on multiple computing devices of a user. The system also includes a synchronization manager for determining that one computing device associated with the user and another computing device associated with the user are absent one or more data updates stored in the memory at the server site. The synchronization manager is configured to send in parallel, absent establishing a data transfer lock, the one or more data updates to the both computing devices of the user for updating the corresponding data stored on each computing device.

Updating multiple computing devices

A calling card includes a gift code that can be used to redeem a gift online (e.g., songs, ring tones, coupons, physical merchandise) using an electronic communications device (e.g., a personal computer, mobile phone, electronic tablet). When a user attempts to redeem the gift online, the user can be provided with a web page, email, text message or other electronic document that provides the user with information about the card provider and allows the user to perform certain actions for the benefit of the card provider or a third party. The card provider can be electronically notified during or after an attempt by the user to redeem the gift online. The identity or other personal information of the user is not shared with the card provider unless the user volunteers to share such information.

Combined business/gift card with redemption notification

Growing community of inventors

Portola Valley, CA, United States of America

Andy Belk