3946 results about "Portable computer" patented technology

A customer lead management system that relates to a system and method for collecting and organizing customer-marketing data, which is then made available to business representatives to assess. Specifically, using a computer network, and data on a potential customer's Budget, Authority, Needs, Timeframe, and other related customer data is collected. While this data is being collected, the customer lead management system stores the customer lead data in real-time instantly, automatically ranking the viability of the customer lead on the interest level of the customer lead and other variable criteria used in the web-based algorithm calculation, and automatically electronically notifies the appropriate company and / or company representative about the customer lead. The resulting customer lead profile record is located in a web server database, and can be accessed and undated in real-time by a portable computer or electronic device that has been web-enabled. The customer lead data is then capable of being accessed via a computer network by various companies that have goods / services that satisfy the needs and requirements of the customer lead. A company representative can be automatically notified when a customer lead profile has been updated.

A method of generating an object oriented interactive multimedia file, including encoding data comprising at least one of video, text, audio, music and / or graphics elements as a video packet stream, text packet stream, audio packet stream, music packet stream and / or graphics packet stream respectively, combining the packet streams into a single self-contained object, said object containing its own control information, placing a plurality of the objects in a data stream, and grouping one or more of the data streams in a single contiguous self-contained scene, the scene including format definition as the initial packet in a sequence of packets. An encoder for executing the method is provided together with a player or decoder for parsing and decoding the file, which can be wirelessly streamed to a portable computer device, such as a mobile phone or a PDA. The object controls provide rendering and interactive controls for objects allowing users to control dynamic media composition, such as dictating the shape and content of interleaved video objects, and control the objects received.

A geographic based communications service system that includes a network and a plurality of access points connected to the network and arranged at known locations in a geographic region. One or more service providers or information providers may be connected to the network to provide services or information on the network. A mobile user (MU) may use a portable computing device (PCD) to connect to the network and access information or services from the network. The PCD may be configured to transmit a signal indicating a presence of the PCD as well as identification information indicating the mobile user. Upon detection of the wireless signal by a first access point in proximity to the PCD, and upon receipt of the identification information indicating the user of the PCD, the first access point may transmit the identification information, as well as the known geographic location of the first access point, to one or more providers on the network. The known geographic location of the first access point indicates the approximate location of the PCD of the mobile user. A first information provider may receive this information and provide content information or services to the mobile user. For example, the first information provider may select content information dependent upon the known geographic location of the first access point and demographic information or past activities of the mobile user of the PCD. The first information provider may then provide the selected content information through the network and through the first access point to the PCD of the mobile user.

A geographic based communications service system that includes a network and a plurality of access points connected to the network and arranged at known locations in a geographic region. One or more service providers or information providers may be connected to the network to provide services or information on the network. Content provided by the service providers may be based on the known geographic location of the user of a portable computing device (PCD). The known geographic location may be determined with a high degree of precision, using one or more access points and one of several different techniques. In one embodiment, the geographic location of the PCD may be determined within a radius of ten feet. Access points may be configured to determine the bearing of a signal received from a PCD, as well as the strength of the signal transmitted by the PCD. Access points may also be configured to send and receive signals with time stamps. These time stamps may be used to calculate signal travel time, thereby allowing a determination of the distance between an access point and a PCD. Each access point may include location circuitry. The location circuitry may include both analog and digital circuitry configured to perform the various methods used to determine the precise geographic location.

A first battery assembly is in a first battery housing that is mechanically engageable with a portable computer, and a second battery assembly is in a second battery housing that is mechanically couplable to the first battery housing. A switch has a first configuration in which communication is established between the portable computer and the first battery assembly and a second configuration in which communication is established between the portable computer and the second battery assembly.

A time / location information delivery system that provides focused advertising and / or other information to individuals based on the time and their location. A wireless identification device is carried by an individual and can be read from or written to when the individual passes by interrogators in a specific geographic location. The detectors read ID information embedded in the wireless identification device. A computer uses the ID and location information to select, from a list of information providers, those information providers which provide information content identifiable or correlated to a location and / or time, and is of interest to the individual. The information content can be forwarded to the individual by a variety of information channels. One channel uses conventional Internet email to deliver advertisements and other information to the individual's Internet mailbox. The email can be delivered to a conventional PC, a portable computer, a PDA, an intelligent telephone, pager or other suitable device. For ease of discussion, a pager and a PDA will be referred to collectively as a PDA. The wireless identification device can be an RFID tag embedded in a card, or even a wireless telephone. The RFID tag is read or written to by fixed interrogators and the location of the wireless telephone is detected by triangulating information from cell towers or by embedding the GPS receiver in the wireless telephone thereby providing the location information directly from the telephone. Of course, other nearly identical location determination means, such as quadrangulation could also be used. The location determination can be performed through similar means with other devices such as PDAs, laptops, pagers, etc.

A disclosed gaming machine is used to provide a method of registering a player to a loyalty program such as a player tracking program at the gaming machine. At the gaming machine, the player or a casino service representative may enter identification information such as a name, an address and biometric information using an input mechanism located on the gaming machine or on a hand-held wireless device. The loyalty program information may be combined with information such as serial number or a bar-code read from a loyalty program instrument in a loyalty program registration request message sent to a loyalty program server such as a player tracking server. The loyalty program instrument may include a magnetic striped card, a smart card, a printed ticket, a room key, a cell-phone or a portable computing device. When the registration request is confirmed by the loyalty program server, the player may begin a loyalty program session on a gaming machine and earn loyalty points.

Portable computing apparatus for aiding a user in the monitoring of the consumption of consumable items, such as food items or prescribed medicaments, and reordering such items includes a common database for use in monitoring the items as consumed, and for preparing the reorder list at the proper time. The apparatus preferably includes an imaging device for recording the image of the item to be consumed, and recognition circuitry for utilizing the recorded image to identify the item and also to provide information concerning its nutritional content in a weight management program. The consumable item may also be identified in other manners, such as by a barcode reader, or a voice-recognition circuit.

System and method for providing access to multiple wireless service providers (WSPs) on a shared network infrastructure. The system includes a plurality of access points (APs) coupled to a network which may be distributed in airports, mass-transit stations, businesses, etc. The network may couple to a wide area network, such as the Internet. Each AP may include a plurality of virtual APs (VAPs), each corresponding to a WSP. A portable computing device (PCD) of a user stores identification information indicating a WSP of a plurality of possible WSPs, and which may include an access level of the user. Each AP "listens for" or detects identification information associated with numerous WSPs. When the AP receives the identification information from the PCD, it determines the VAP / WSP for the PCD using the identification information. Network access is then provided to the PCD through the determined WSP at the determined access level.

A portable computer arranged to rest comfortably in the hand has a small display screen. Accelerometers capable of detecting movement of the pen with respect to gravity provide input to a microcontroller which selects a response from a number of viewing modes. The pen may be held in either hand and the output message to the screen will be oriented according to the location of the pen. Full personal digital assistance functionality may be incorporated in a relatively small plastics casing and functions, such as calendar, contracts the like may be incorporated.

A system and method for providing access and / or roaming features on a network system. The network system includes a plurality of wireless and / or wired access points coupled to a network. A portable computing device (PCD) of a user may store identification information which uniquely indicates a network provider of a plurality of possible network providers. The identification information may also or instead indicate an access or privilege level of the user. When the access point receives the identification information from a PCD of a user, the access point may determine the appropriate network provider for the portable computing device using the identification information. Network access may then be provided to the portable computing device through the determined network provider.

A portable computing device is equipped with multiple display panels. The display panels and hinged, jointed or otherwise disposed to rotate or slide with respect to one another in a transition from a compact configuration to an expanded configuration. In a basic embodiment three output screens take a form of a triptych for which an input panel forms a base. The output panels are deployed with a bend when opened and images angled in towards an observer. The display panels comprise a main panel and two auxiliary panels. In a variation a forth display panel is rotatably or foldably joined to the central display panel so that a total of four display panels may be deployed in a hub and petal configuration. The side panels may be eliminated from the four panel embodiment so that the input panel and two remaining display panels form a vertically orientable triptych with the input panel serving as base.

A method and a system for navigating a display screen to search for a desired item of information stored in an electronic device. The electronic device includes a novel fly over user interface (FOUI) capable of receiving commands from a user to provide a zoom out view of the display screen. A user may commence a navigation session by touching the display screen in a non active area or by clicking on a specifically designated icon to activate the user interface. During the navigation session, the display screen is zoomed-out and a magnifying area may appear on the display screen. The user interface enables the user to scroll the zoomed-out display screen by dragging the magnifying area towards an edge of the display screen to find a desired item of information. The display screen may be a display screen of a digital device (e.g., portable computer, personal computer, a cellular telephone, a digital watch, etc). The user may terminate a navigation session by removing the pointer from the display screen.

A portable computer having a independently mounted screen sections, whereby the screen sections may be used to provide a larger overall screen, to provide screens mirroring each other for presentation and display, for use by different users, and the like. The screen sections are foldable and collapsible into the main housing of the portable computer for storage and transport.

Spatially associated reminder systems and methods enable users to create reminders and associate those reminders with entering / exiting particular trigger areas. A user's portable computing device triggers an alert / displays a reminder based upon a user entering and / or exiting a trigger area. A user interface supported by the portable computing device allows a user to terminate the reminder so it will not trigger again, to defer the reminder so it triggers again after an elapsed time, to reset the reminder so that it triggers again only if a user leaves the area and then returns, to request a last chance, causing the portable computing device to remind the user again upon exiting the area to ensure the user did not forget to act upon the reminder, or to edit the reminder. The user interface also enables users to graphically define trigger areas within the physical world to be associated with personal digital reminders using geospatial imagery.

A “Proxi-Mapper” combines location based services (LBS), local searching capabilities, and relative mapping in a way that minimizes bandwidth requirements and maximizes user experience. The Proxi-Mapper automatically determines approximate locations of one or more local user devices (cell phones, PDA's, media players, portable computing devices, etc.) and returns a lightweight model of local entities (“key-points”) representing businesses, services or people to those devices. Key-points are maintained in one or more remote databases in which key-points are assigned to predetermined grid sections based on the locations of the corresponding entities. Metadata associated with the key-points provides the user with additional information relating to the corresponding entities. In various embodiments, user query options allow the Proxi-Mapper to pull or push relevant local key-point based information to user devices via one or more wired or wireless networks.

A method and system include receiving a payment account number from a token, such as a traditional credit card. Either the payment account number or a token is communicated over a communications network to a mobile wallet system and / or a vault. A first authorization code may be generated in response to receiving the payment account number or token. Next, the first authorization code is then transmitted over the communications network for relaying the first authorization code to a portable computing device, such as a mobile phone. The portable computing device receives the authorization code and re-transmits the code (as a second authorization code) over the communications network. Subsequently, the first and second code from the portable computing device are compared to determine if a match exists. If a match exists, then the payment account number is loaded into the mobile wallet system for use as a virtual token.

A data Interface for transferring digital data between a host and a client over a communication path using packet structures linked together to form a communication protocol for communicating a pre-selected set of digital control and presentation data. The signal protocol is used by link controllers configured to generate, transmit, and receive packets forming the communications protocol, and to form digital data into one or more types of data packets, with at least one residing in the host device and being coupled to the client through the communications path. The interface provides a cost-effective, low power, bi-directional, high-speed data transfer mechanism over a short-range "serial" type data link, which lends itself to implementation with miniature connectors and thin flexible cables which are especially useful in connecting display elements such as wearable micro-displays to portable computers and wireless communication devices.

A system and method for managing payment in a transaction using a portable computing device (“PCD”) includes a mobile wallet token being received from an account issuing entity. Next, the mobile wallet token is stored in memory within a PCD payment platform (i.e., a cloud payment solution). A PCD token that corresponds with the mobile wallet token is generated by the PCD payment platform. The PCD token is transmitted over a communications network to a PCD. The mobile wallet token corresponds to at least one of: a credit card account, an alternative or non-traditional payment account, a stored value account, an account from a financial institution, and a merchant based card account. A mobile wallet token may be generated in response to receiving input from an on-line portal that future use of a payment account with a PCD is desired or in response to input received from a point-of-sale terminal.

A matching network system including communication devices, servers and software which enables the provisioning of services and execution of transactions based on a plurality of private and public personality profiles and behavior models of the users, of the communication devices, of the products / services and of the servers; in combination with the software resident at the communication device level and or the local / network server level. Matching and searching processes based on a plurality of personality profiles wherein the information, communication and transactions are enabled to be matched with the user, the communication device and or the servers. The communication device is a stationary device or a mobile device, such as a portable computing device, wireless telephone, cellular telephone, personal digital assistant, or a multifunction communication, computing and control device.

A portable apparatus (10) providing both substantially automated performance monitoring and audio entertainment features. In a preferred embodiment the apparatus (10) broadly comprises a portable housing (12); an attachment mechanism (14); a GPS component (16); a heart rate monitor component (17); an audio component (18); a user interface (20); a processor (26); and a power supply (30). The housing (12) may include a headset (1112a) wherein the GPS component (16) is located, and a second housing component (1112b) wherein the processor (26) is located, wherein the GPS component (16) communicates with the processor (26) in a wireless manner. The apparatus (10) is adapted to determine a number of laps or a distance, to provide an elapsed time, and to determine a speed.

A remote gaming system whereby a player can gamble against a wagering establishment or state-run lottery from a remote location on a personal computer or portable computer device where it is unnecessary to establish an on-line connection with a host computer associated with the wagering establishment, the gaming computer having associated gaming software for providing at least one wagering opportunity and enabling the player to obtain gambling credit and cash-out any resulting winnings, the host computer enabling the player to purchase and redeem gambling credit at the remote location in one embodiment of the invention using cryptographic protocols such as through a series of authenticatable message exchanges between the player and the wagering establishment, the gaming computer and the host computer directly on-line, or the gaming computer having a detachable tamper-resistant or tamper-evident credit module associated therewith or for use with a personal computer being provided to the player with preinstalled or preloaded gambling credit, the gaming system also enabling participation in future events of which the outcome is uncertain such as, for example, a lottery whereby the player makes selections on a gaming computer at a remote location.

The method, used with a portable computing device, secures security sensitive words, icons, etc. by determining device location within or without a predetermined region and then extracting the security data from the file, text, data object or whatever. The extracted data is separated from the remainder data and stored either on media in a local drive or remotely, typically via wireless network, to a remote store. Encryption is used to further enhance security levels. Extraction may be automatic, when the portable device is beyond a predetermined territory, or triggered by an event, such a “save document” or a time-out routine. Reconstruction of the data is permitted only in the presence of a predetermined security clearance and within certain geographic territories. A computer readable medium containing programming instructions carrying out the methodology for securing data is also described herein. An information processing system for securing data is also described.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a portable computing device for wireless communications comprises a first network interface for communicating with a public wireless wide area network (WWAN), a second network interface for communicating with a private wireless local area network (WLAN), and a processor executing under control of software instructions, the software instructions defining a gateway protocol, the gateway protocol establishing the portable computing device as an access point within the private WLAN after the wireless presence on the public WWAN is established.

A portable electronic device (100), such as a mobile telephone, portable computer, personal digital assistant, or other similar device, is equipped with a virtual card application (101) configured to manage a plurality of virtual cards (106,107,108,109). Such virtual cards (106,107,108,109) are used in financial and other transactions by way of a wireless near-field transceiver (114) and a near-field communication terminal, such as a payment terminal (115). To provide a user with a seamless, less complex virtual card selection process, an arranger module (102) is configured to determine a priority associated with each of the virtual cards (106,107,108,109). The priority may be determined from location, schedule, calendar, user input, or other means. Once the priority is determined, the virtual card with the foremost priority is advanced as a top of the wallet card (111). The top of the wallet card (111), in one embodiment, is the default card for use in the transaction.

An instrumented golf club system and methods are disclosed. A variety of golf swing parameters are measured by the instrumented golf club and wirelessly transmitted to a portable computer device. The portable computer device generates a user interface that displays the golf swing parameters against preferred golf swing parameters. The instrumented golf club system allows a golfer to receive feedback in real time while playing golf.

In accordance with the method, system and program of the present invention, at least one type of exercise indicator signal associated with exercise performed by a particular user is received from a particular exercise machine in a common transmittable data format at a portable computer system provided the particular user. Cumulative fitness activity is computed and stored for the particular user at the portable computer system utilizing the at least one type of exercise indicator signal and previously accumulated fitness activity data at the portable computer system, such that an independent portable computer system associated with the particular user monitors the real-time cumulative fitness activity of the particular user from at least one type of exercise indicator signal received from at least one exercise machine over a period of time.

A portable computer. The computer includes a base, a display member, and an arm assembly coupling the display member to the base. The arm assembly includes a pair of spaced arm portions and a rigid connecting portion extending between the arm portions. The arm portions each have a first end pivotally coupled to the base edge for movement of the arm assembly between a closed position with the arm portion substantially parallel to the base and an open position with the arm portion oriented at an angle relative to the base, and a second end pivotally coupled to the display edge for pivotal movement of the display member relative to the arm portion to move the display member between a plurality of positions relative to the arm member.

A method of transmitting information to a portable computing device comprises, using a first communication protocol, transmitting a client to the portable computing device. The client configures the portable computing device to communicate with a distributor using a data transfer communication protocol. Using the data transfer communication protocol, the information is transmitted from the distributor to the portable computing device. Transmitting the information includes generating, at the distributor, a polling signal, detecting, at the distributor, an acknowledgement signal generated, in response to the polling signal, by the portable computing device, and generating, in response to the acknowledgement signal, a broadcast signal incorporating the information.

A positioning device for supporting a portable computer that includes a base member for placing on a horizontal surface, a support plate for supporting the portable computer at an inclined position relative to the base member, a hinge that rotatably connects the base member to the support plate so that the support plate can be rotated between multiple angular positions relative to the base member, and a lock mechanism for selectively fixing the angular position between the base member and the support plate. The portable computer, which includes a base housing having a front and rear end, a flat panel display rotatably attached to the rear end of the base housing, and a keyboard attached to a top surface of the base housing, can be supported in an inclined position directly by a support member that is rotatably attached to the front end of the base housing so that the support member can be rotated between multiple angular positions relative to the base housing, where a lock mechanism selectively fixes the angular position between the support member and the base housing so that the support member supports the base housing at an inclined position.