Koninklijke Philips Corporation N.v.

U.S. Philis Corporation

David P Walker

Ralph Kurt

Heribert Baldus

Evert Jan Van Loenen

Geert Langereis

Paul M Fulton

Laura Klaming

Steffen Reymann

Dawid Ochal

There is provided a method of controlling the operation of a first electronic device having a first display screen, the method comprising obtaining () measurements of a position of the first electronic device relative to a second electronic device, an orientation of the first display screen, and/or an orientation of a second display screen of a second electronic device; determining (), using the obtained measurements, one or both of (i) whether a first user using the first electronic device can view the second display screen, and (ii) whether a second user using the second electronic device can view the first display screen; and controlling () the display of information on the first display screen based on the result of the step of determining.

Method and apparatus for controlling the operation of an electronic device

A wearable electronic device such as a wrist watch () is supplied with conventional clock with two pointers (). The device displays a parameter indicative of how 'cool' the wearer has been over the past period as a function of time, using the time axis of one of the pointers (). 'Coolness' can be based on the measurement of related physiological parameters like heart-rate, body temperature, movement, skin resistance or muscle activity. &#x201c;Coolness&#x201d; of a person is understood as being the ability to cope with stress. Therefore, the stability of physiological parameters can be used to derive a signal for the subjective trait called &#x201c;coolness&#x201d;. All physiological parameters can be measured by sensors () in the watch () or in the strap (). The invention is used as a gadget for self expression and emotional feedback.

Indication of the condition of a user

A portable electronic device has a keypad for entering alphanumeric characters including a plurality of single contact keys and a multi-way shift key. A character is entered by actuating a single contact key ( ) alone or in combination with the multi-way shift key ( ). The multi-way shift key ( ) may be a four-way rocker switch, with each single contact key having five character labels, four of which are arranged to indicate the direction in which the rocker switch should be actuated to enter the corresponding character.

Text entry on portable device

A compression method and apparatus are provided for use in image data processing where two-dimensional pixel images have respective absolute depth values specified per pixel, and that depth data is required to be compressed prior to transmission or storage with the image data. The process of compressing the depth data per image begins by determining patches of adjoining pixels of the image (90), which pixels of a patch have the same or similar depth values, and assigning a common depth value to all pixels of the patch. Next, pixel patches having the same or similar common pixel depth values are grouped together (92), and a common depth value is assigned to all pixels of the patches so grouped, following which for each discrete pixel depth value, a determination is made (94) as to the area or number of pixels of the image having that depth value. For the smallest of these areas, the depth value of each of those pixels concerned is modified (100) to the nearest existing discrete depth value. The determination of smallest area and consequent reassignment of depth value is then repeated until only a predetermined number N (for example 16 or 32) of discrete depth values remain. The reassignment of depth values with reference to the depths of adjoining pixels means that the depth data reduced to the N discrete levels may then be run-length coded to achieve a substantial reduction in depth data volume.

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Redhill, United Kingdom

David P Walker