Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications Ab

Sony Mobile Communications Ab

Sony Corporation

Yojak Harshad Vasa

William O Camp, Jr

Gregory A Dunko

Leland Scott Bloebaum

Scott Ladell Vance

L Scott Bloebaum

David Ryan Story

Walter M Marcinkiewicz

Anthony J Sammarco

Toby John Bowen

Ram Asokan

Mark Gavin Kokes

Gary Randall Cole

Martin Churchill Trively

Mats Pettersson

Maurice Labiche

Ardian Dhrimaj

Methods and apparatus for distributing multimedia files units are disclosed. In an exemplary method, a plurality of multimedia files are downloaded using a transportation provider wireless device associated with a fare-based transport vehicle, such as a taxi, bus, ferry, or airplane. The downloaded multimedia files are stored in a data storage unit operatively connected to the transportation provider wireless device. In response to passenger input data received from a passenger wireless device, a desired multimedia file selected by the passenger is transferred to the passenger wireless device or played back using local speakers and/or video displays. In some embodiments, a selected multimedia file is associated with digital rights management information regulating authorized uses of the file.

Distribution of multimedia files using a transportation provider wireless device

Methods and apparatus for sending a dynamically updated data object to a user of a communication device are disclosed. An exemplary method comprises receiving updated data from an external source at a first communication device and updating a stored data object with the updated data. Upon the occurrence of a trigger, the updated data object, which comprises the updated information, is transferred to a second communication device.

Method and apparatus for creating dynamic phone pages due to triggering events from an external source

Two or more video streams including a high quality video stream and a low quality video stream are simultaneously transmitted to the video receiving device over the wireless network. All of the video streams carry the same video content but with different video quality. The high quality video stream is encoded using an unequal error protection code so that first components (e.g., high frequency components) receive a higher level of error protection than second components (e.g., low frequency components). The video receiving device can select the high quality video stream when channel conditions are favorable. When channel conditions are not good enough to support the high quality video stream, the video receiving device determines whether the first components of the high quality video stream with the greater error protection are usable. If so, the video receiving device combines the first components of the high quality video stream with the low quality video stream. Otherwise, the video receiving device outputs the low quality video stream.

Multimedia stream combining

Digital cameras include an image capture system, an object recognition system and an advertisement insertion system. The image capture system captures a visible image as a digital image. The object recognition system recognizes visible objects in the digital image. The advertisement insertion system inserts an advertising-related image into the digital image in response to a visible object in the digital image that was recognized. The user of the digital camera may be compensated for exposure to the advertising-related image.

Advertisement insertion systems and methods for digital cameras based on object recognition

A mobile terminal includes a communication module, a display screen, and control circuitry. The circuitry is configured to estimate a current geographic position of the mobile terminal, and to determine if the estimated current position of the mobile terminal is within a boundary of geographic map information stored in the mobile terminal. The circuitry is further configured to retrieve additional geographic map information including the current position of the mobile terminal using the communication module if the current position of the mobile terminal is not within the boundary of the stored geographic map information.

Mobile terminals including display screens capable of displaying maps and map display methods for mobile terminals

A technique for supplying alternative contact information when a communication attempt is unsuccessful is described. The technique comprises receiving an inquiry that includes an indication of an unsuccessful communication attempt and an identifier or address for the target of the failed communication attempt. Next, it is determined whether the identifier or address is associated with a group. If so, a response is generated, the response including one or more other identifiers or addresses associated with the group. Finally, the generated response is transferred in response to the inquiry.

Methods and apparatus for supplying alternative contact information in a communication system

Methods and systems for selectively transferring confidential or private information to a user of a communication device are disclosed. In an exemplary method, a trigger event is detected at a first communication device, resulting in the retrieval of a data object for transmission to a second communication device. If the data object includes private or confidential information, consent of a user of the first communication device is required before the data object may be sent to the second communication device. In some embodiments, consent is obtained by explicitly requesting consent from a user. In others, consent may be deemed under pre-determined circumstances.

Method and apparatus for controlling the transfer of private information in a communication system

Content displaying methods, systems and computer program products display first display content on a first display screen of a handheld wireless communicator, while simultaneously sending second display content that is different from the first display content, from the handheld wireless communicator to an external display screen. In videoconferencing applications, the second display content can include an image of the remote party, and the first display content can include an image of the user of the handheld wireless communicator and/or a camera image from the handheld wireless communicator. In displaying alphanumeric data, the first display content can include first alphanumeric data, and the second display content can include the first alphanumeric data and additional detail data concerning the first alphanumeric data.

Systems, methods and computer program products for displaying content on multiple display screens using handheld wireless communicators

Methods of displaying video content include obtaining a video content record to be displayed and determining an associated aging characteristic associated with the video content record. A current age is determined for the obtained video content record and a modified video content record is generated for display based on the determined aging characteristic and the determined current age of the obtained video content record. The obtained video content record may be an animation, which may include audio data. The obtained video content record may also be a still image.

Methods, systems and computer program products for displaying video content with aging

According to a method of sharing information between mobile terminals, a first mobile terminal receives information, such as a web page, which may include form data, and shares the information with one or more second mobile terminals. Input data relevant to the shared information as entered at the second mobile terminals is returned to the first mobile terminal, which consolidates that data with related input data entered at the first mobile terminal. Consolidated information may be sent from the first mobile terminal to the second mobile terminal(s), so that each of the mobile terminals maintains updated consolidated input data, and this process may be repeated as needed. In at least one embodiment, the information to be shared is provided by a third party information provider, and the first mobile terminal is configured to return the finally consolidated data to the third party information provider.

Mobile communication terminal supporting information sharing

Some embodiments of the present invention provide methods of operating an electronic device, such as a wireless communications terminal, a personal digital assistant and/or a media player, having a personal information manager, such as a scheduling application and/or a contact management application. Data is received at the electronic device, the received data including audio and/or visual content and associated personal information manager data. The personal information manager is controlled responsive to the personal information manager data.

Personal information management using content with embedded personal information manager data

A camera described herein captures a plurality of images at different focus settings to improve the probability that the camera captures a clear representation of a desired object in a potentially ambiguous scene. According to one exemplary embodiment, the camera selects a plurality of focus settings corresponding to different focal points in a range of focal points. Subsequently, the camera automatically captures successive images of the scene at the selected focus settings in response to a single activation of a shutter control. The user may select one or more of the captured images for storage, transmission to a remote device, and/or further processing.

Growing community of inventors

Cary, NC, United States of America

Yojak Harshad Vasa