Hall Aluminum LLC

Other

Xoucin, Inc.

Wildseed Limited

Varia Holdings LLC

Eric G Engstrom

Walter G Bright

Christopher R Phillips

Jeffrey G Ort

Peter Zatloukal

Tyrol Graham

The invention is directed to associating a received command with a control such as a push button on a mobile telecommunication device, and enabling an action associated with the command to be performed when the control is later activated. The command may be received from another mobile device or remote computer. The actions that may be associated with the performance instruction include tuning to a broadcast such as a radio or television, browsing a web site or hyperlinked text, and tuning to a streamed broadcast over a network, such as the Internet. The command button can be a physical element such as the '*' key on a keypad or a virtual button on a display.

Method and apparatus for associating a received command with a control for performing actions with a mobile telecommunication device

An online service provider is equipped to receive a request from a client to access a subscribed online service of a subscriber at the online service provider. Comprising the request is a globally unique identifier (GUID) of the subscriber. Once the request is received, the online service provider, determines if the GUID is associated with the subscriber, and if the GUID is associated with the subscriber, the online service provider facilitates access to the subscribed online service of the subscriber. As a result, a user is able to access online services without having to manage several a logon Id and password pair. In one embodiment, the GUID is also caused to be stored in an email with an email service provider. The novel storage enables the subscriber to access his/her subscribed services from another location, or even after the subscriber has reconfigured the original location.

Method and apparatus for simplified access to online services

A method and apparatus for shielding a user's private billing data, such as credit card information, or other billing arrangements, but distributing different billing data to businesses during commerce therewith. Also disclosed is assigning the different billing data through real-time and advance distribution of the different billing data to a user, as well. Also disclosed is validating the correctness of a charge through confirmation of the charge with a financial institution, such as a bank, and by comparing itemized charges against expected charges identified by the user.

Masking private billing data by assigning other billing data to use in commerce with businesses

A non-blocking always visible display application is provided to copy and save first pixel values corresponding to a first display screen area, blend the copied first pixel values with second pixel values corresponding to a non-blocking always visible display to generate third pixel values, and replace the original first pixel values with the third pixel values to effectuate display of the non-blocking always visible display. In one embodiment, the application further monitors for display operations that impact the first display screen area, and re-blend accordingly. In one embodiment, the re-blending and replacement are advantageously delayed. In another embodiment, the application further intercepts and causes cursor events to be handled properly, based at least in part on a current blending bias between the non-blocking always visible display, and the underlying display windows.

Techniques for displaying non-blocking always visible displays and their applications

A computing device is provided with a number of programming instructions to cause display of first execution results of a first set of applications in a first plane of a metaphoric desktop, and display of second execution results of a second set of applications in a second plane of the metaphoric desktop. In one embodiment, the programming instructions are further designed to morph the metaphoric desktop from one plane to another. In one embodiment, the second set of applications are on-line applications, and the programming instructions are designed to cause the metaphoric desktop to morph from the first plane to the second plane when the computing device is being connected on line; and cause the metaphoric desktop to morph back to the first plane in response to a user request to return to the first plane.

Multi-plane metaphoric desktop and methods of operation associated therewith

A mobile client device, on behalf of a user, is equipped to submit an identity of the user to a messaging service, including the user's current location. Once the messaging service receives the identity of the user, and the user's current location, the messaging service, in response, selects one or more recipients remotely disposed by the mobile client device and the messaging service to receive the user's current location, based at least in part on the identity of the user. The recipient receives the the user's current location for information purposes. In one embodiment, the identity of the user, in addition the user's current location, is also transmitted to the selected one or more recipients. As a result, users, in particular, youths, are able to notify to recipients, such as their parents/guardians, and each other of their whereabouts simply, efficiently and effectively. In other embodiments, the submission is triggered based on bio-metric data of the user, and includes the triggering bio-metric data. These embodiments have special applications for older users. Additionally, some recipients, such as parents/guardians, are empowered to initiate receipt of the user's current location, thereby providing a non-intrusive way of keeping track of the locations of the youths for their peace of mind. In various embodiments, the client device may be a wireless telephone or a palm sized computing device.

Method and apparatus for people to simply communicate their location and activity information

Palm-sized handheld device with inverted ergonomic keypad

A mobile client device, such as a wireless mobile or a palm sized personal digital assistant, is provided with a number of sensors and companion programming instructions/circuitry to generate a heart rate reading for a user holding the device. The sensors are used to sense blood flow rate of the user. The sensors are advantageously disposed in a distributed manner, in a number of locations of the mobile client device. The programming instructions/circuitry are used to infer a holding pattern of the device, and generate the heart rate reading, using a subset of the sensed data, based at least in part on the inferred holding pattern.

Mobile digital communication/computing device including heart rate monitor

A wireless mobile phone, is provided with a couple of buttons and complementary logic to facilitate entry and transmission of Morse code representations of alphanumeric data. As a result, a user may use the provided facilities to engage in non-verbal communication for sensitive subject matters in the middle of a call. In one embodiment, the complementary logic further facilitates echoing on a display, alphanumeric data corresponding to any entered Morse code representations. Additionally, each of the Morse code entry buttons includes one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs), and the LEDs are lit to visually echo the Morse code representations of any alphanumeric data entered through a standard input keypad.

Growing community of inventors

Kirkland, WA, United States of America

Eric G Engstrom