Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Microsoft Corporation

John Herbert Chiloyan

Stephen Edward Hodges

Todd L Carpenter

Andras Tantos

Antonio Criminisi

Edward Charles Giaimo, Iii

Carsten Rother

Lyndsay Williams

Kenneth Robert Wood

Edwin W Thorne, Iii

Samuel A Mann

Leonard D Zuvela

James Srinivasan

John E Morrow

An accessory-specific user experience can be invoked at a mobile host device attached to an accessory device. The mobile device can receive accessory device information from the accessory and transmit the accessory device information to an online marketplace. The mobile device can receive information indicating accessory-specific goods or services available from the online marketplace and display the received information as part of the invoked user experience. The accessory device information can comprise accessory usage categories as well as additional information about the accessory. A marketplace can select accessory-specific goods or services based on the received accessory device information based on matching between accessory attribute values associated with the goods and services and accessory attributes values contained in the received accessory device information. The accessory device can be a docking station connected to additional accessories and the accessory device information can comprise information pertaining to the additional accessories.

Invocation of accessory-specific user experience

An image capture device is described which is operable in any one of a number of capture modes. The device comprises a camera, a memory and a processor. The memory stores a plurality of sets of capture triggers, with each set of capture triggers being associated with one of the plurality of capture modes. The processor selects one of the plurality of capture modes, such that the device is operable in the selected capture mode. In the selected capture mode, an image is captured automatically when a capture trigger within the associated set of capture triggers is satisfied.

Automatic capture modes

A host device comprises a configurable connector. The host device connector can be connected to a configurable connector of an accessory device. The host device can select connector functions to be enabled for connecting to the accessory device connector. The selection of connector functions can be based on accessory device information such as accessory device power consumption, power configuration and application information. The accessory device can exclude connector functions supported by the accessory device from the list of accessory device functions sent to the host device. The accessory device can exclude connector functions based on information about the host and connector devices. Single or mutual authentication can be performed before connection functions are enabled at either device. Host and accessory devices can require that a host device be licensed to use an accessory device connector function or to gain access to accessory device resources. Tiered licensing policies can be supported.

Dynamic configuration of connectors for system-level communications

A device is described which changes its operation dependent upon the location of the device. The device accesses parameters which are specific to its location and uses these to determine how the operation of the device should be changed.

Automatic localization of devices

A headset is described that can be user-configured to be used in either monaural or binaural modes. The headset may include a first speaker for one ear, and a second speaker in an earpiece inserted in the headset body. The earpiece may be retractable, and upon removal from the headset, the headset may switch from monaural to binaural mode. The earpiece may communicate wirelessly with the headset, or may be coupled using a spring-loaded or manually retractable wire. The headset may wirelessly detect the addition of a second headset, and may switch to binaural mode based on this addition.

User configurable headset for monaural and binaural modes

A first device is automatically authorized to participate in a secure network by associating the first device with network access information in a machine-accessible format that can serve as a basis for the authorization. The network access information may be presented to a machine code reader in communication with a second device participating in the secure network. Upon the network access information being presented to the reader, the second device authorizes the first device associated with the identifier to participate in the secure network. Alternatively, the network access information may be registered with an authorization database in which the network access information is associated with a network identifier or an identifier representing a user associated with the secure network. The second device is signaled, by means of a signal button or comparable act, to access the authorization database to verify the first device is authorized to participate in the network.

Secure method and system for creating a plug and play network

A method and system for obtaining a network address stored in a peripheral device, and accessing a remote device at the network address to obtain information related to the peripheral device. When the peripheral device is connected to a host computer, the stored network address is read by the host computer. The network address is preferably determined by the host computer when a peripheral device, such as a USB device, is initially connected to the host device, or when the host device with a newly connected USB is energized. The network address is then used by the host device to communicate with a remote device so that information pertaining to the peripheral device, such as a device driver for the peripheral device, can be accessed by the host device at the remote device. In addition, the host device can download or automatically execute a program stored at the remote device, download and install an application program relating to use of the peripheral device, display a Web page that includes information pertinent to the peripheral device, download documentation for the peripheral device, access help information, download and install firmware into the peripheral device and/or access other material related to the peripheral device. Access of the remote device can be fully automated or can optionally be implemented only with the permission of the user.

Method and system to access software pertinent to an electronic peripheral device based on an address stored in a peripheral device

A method and system for using a peripheral device identifier obtained from a peripheral device to determine a network address from a database, or generate the network address based on the identifier. Information related to the peripheral device is obtained from a remote device at the network address. The method includes automatically transferring at least one identifier from the peripheral device to a host device when the peripheral device is connected to the host device. The step of transferring is preferably done during or after enumeration of the peripheral device, such as occurs when a USB device is connected to a computer. The identifier is used as an index to automatically determine a network address from a database on the host device or a remote device, or to automatically generate a network address. Then, communication occurs between the host device and a remote device or other source of the information indicated by the network address. For example, the host device may download a device driver for the peripheral device from the remote device or from another peripheral device connected to the host device indicated by the network address.

Method and system to access software pertinent to an electronic peripheral device at an address based on a peripheral device identifier

A method and system for automatically detecting invalid or superseded firmware and replacing at least a portion of the firmware stored in rewritable, nonvolatile memory of an electronic device. Boot code of the device firmware checks whether any portion of the device firmware is corrupt or superseded by a later version. The boot code stores a status indication of the firmware, and communicates the status to a host device over a bus or network. If the firmware is corrupt or superseded, the host accesses a replacement firmware that is stored on a local or remote storage. The replacement firmware may comprise the entire firmware or a portion of the firmware. The host then communicates at least a portion of the replacement firmware to the electronic device. Upon receipt, the electronic device overwrites at least a portion of the existing firmware with the replacement firmware in the rewritable, nonvolatile memory.

Firmware recovery

A method and apparatus are provided that receive a caller identification packet from a central office. The caller identification packet is decoded to produce caller identification information, which is used to identify an audio message. Before presenting the audio message to the user, the method and apparatus disables ringing of the phone system. After the audio message has been presented to the user, ringing is re-enabled.

Method and apparatus for coordinating ringing and audio announcements in a phone system

A method and apparatus logs outgoing phone symbols dialed from an extension. To log the phone numbers, a switching network is coupled to the phone lines and passes a Dual Tone Multiple Frequency signal from the extension to a CODEC. The CODEC converts the analog signal it receives into a series of digital values that are passed to a digital signal processor. The digital signal processor decodes the series of digital values into a set of dialed-symbol values indicative of symbols dialed by the extension. The dialed-symbol values are packaged by a processing unit interface and transmitted to the processing unit where they are stored in a log database.

Method and apparatus for logging DTMF phone symbols dialed from an extension

A method and system for programming a remote control unit to control the operation of a controllable device. A group of code sets associated with a particular type and brand of controllable device are selected from a database of code sets stored in the memory of the remote control unit. The commands of each code set in the group of code sets are compared to identify similarities and dissimilarities between command formats within each respective code set. The user tests a command and provides feedback to the remote control unit regarding the results of such testing. When the testing of a command is successful, the remote control unit eliminates code sets containing a command format that is dissimilar to the format of the command that was successfully tested. By eliminating code sets from the group of code sets and testing other commands, the remote control unit eliminates all but one code set. The one remaining code set is identified as the best code set and is added to the remote control unit to allow the remote control unit to transmit signals to control operation of the controllable device.

Method and system for programming a remote control unit

A system and method for optically, serially transmitting data to a remote device using an interlaced display device. The data bits to be transmitted are ordered so that the bits are received in proper temporal order by the remote device. At least one of the data bits can be transmitted using the even-numbered horizontal scan lines of the interlaced display device. If all of the data bits can not be transmitted using the even-numbered horizontal scan lines of a usable transmission area, then at least one of the data bits can be transmitted using the odd-numbered horizontal scan lines of the interlaced display device. The binary data bits can be represented by illuminated and non-illuminated horizontal scan lines. An optical detector in the remote device can be used to receive the pulses of light, representing the data bits to be transmitted, from the horizontal scan lines.

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Woodinville, WA, United States of America

John Herbert Chiloyan