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Patent

Systems and methods for determining and managing the power remaining in a handheld electronic device

TL;DR: In this article, power management techniques such as current sensing, dynamic voltage measurement, and/or power state control may be used to manage power usage of portable user devices such as electronic book reader devices.
Abstract: Portable user devices, such as electronic book reader devices, may have a limited power supply. Power management techniques, such as current sensing, dynamic voltage measurement, and/or power state control may be used to manage power usage of such user devices.
Citations
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Patent
17 Oct 2011
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors proposed an energy conserving communications for networked thermostats powered in part by batteries, where the battery level associated with the battery on the thermostat is at a low battery-level.
Abstract: Aspects of the present invention provide energy conserving communications for networked thermostats powered, in part, by batteries. A thermostat communication server stores a thermostat battery-level to determine what data should be sent to the thermostat. The thermostat communication server classifies types of data to be transmitted to the thermostat according to a data priority ranging from a low-priority to a high-priority data type. If the battery-level associated with the battery on the thermostat is at a low battery-level, the thermostat communication server may only transmit data classified under a high-priority data type. This conserves the power used by the thermostat, allows the battery on the thermostat time to recharge and perform other functions. If the battery-level of the thermostat is at a high level, the thermostat communication server may transmit a range of data to the thermostat classified from a low-priority type to a high-priority data type.

119 citations

Patent
17 Feb 2012
TL;DR: In this paper, a linear driver and a switching regulator are used for regulating an output based on a control signal, where the linear driver has a first input for receiving the control signal and a second input connected to the output for receiving negative feedback.
Abstract: A highly efficient, high control bandwidth and high-speed power supply with a linear driver and a switching regulator for regulating an output based on a control signal. The linear driver has a first input for receiving the control signal and a second input connected to the output for receiving negative feedback. The driver's output is controlled by its two inputs and has a capacitor connected in series with it to generate a capacitor voltage V C responsive to the DC and low frequency components in the driver's output. The switching regulator has a control input and a regulator output connected in a regulator feedback loop. The control input receives capacitor voltage V C and the regulator feedback loop minimizes capacitor voltage V C . Thus, switching regulator takes over the generation of DC and low frequency components, while the linear driver provides high frequency output current components.

70 citations

Patent
08 May 2012
TL;DR: In this paper, a wireless network-connected thermostat and a cloud-based management server in a manner that promotes reduced power usage and extended service life of a rechargeable battery of the thermometer, while at the same time accomplishing timely data transfer between the thermostometer and the cloud-enabled management server for suitable and time-appropriate control of an HVAC system.
Abstract: Provided according to one or more embodiments herein are methods, systems and related architectures for facilitating network communications between a wireless network-connected thermostat and a cloud-based management server in a manner that promotes reduced power usage and extended service life of a rechargeable battery of the thermostat, while at the same time accomplishing timely data transfer between the thermostat and the cloud-based management server for suitable and time-appropriate control of an HVAC system. The thermostat further comprises powering circuitry configured to: extract electrical power from one or more HVAC control wires in a manner that does not require a “common” wire; supply electrical power for thermostat operation; recharge the rechargeable battery (if needed) using any surplus extracted power; and discharge the rechargeable battery to assist in supplying electrical power for thermostat operation during intervals in which the extracted power alone is insufficient for thermostat operation.

61 citations

Patent
Brent R. Smith1, Tom Killalea1
29 Oct 2008
TL;DR: In this article, a server system receives a filter request from a client device to filter a plurality of annotations according to criteria included in the filter request, and the server system sends filter results to the client device based upon annotations matching the criteria of the filter requests.
Abstract: Organizing collaborative annotations of digital items is described. In a particular embodiment, a server system receives a filter request from a client device to filter a plurality of annotations according to criteria included in the filter request. The plurality of annotations is stored at an annotations database coupled to the server system. The server system sends filter results to the client device based upon annotations matching the criteria of the filter request. The annotations may be filtered based on tags associated with respective annotations, where the tags categorize the respective annotations.

50 citations

Patent
Michael G. Curtis1
29 Sep 2008
TL;DR: In this article, a server determines whether an eBook is associated with at least one book club in response to sending the eBook to the client device, and then the server sends book club identifiers to the user when the book club associated with the book.
Abstract: Facilitating discussion group formation and interaction is described. In one example, a server sends an eBook to a client device. The server determines whether the eBook is associated with at least one book club in response to sending the eBook to the client device. The server sends book club identifiers to the client device when the eBook is associated with at least one book club. The book club identifiers specify one or more book clubs associated with the eBook.

24 citations

References
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Patent
30 Sep 2010
TL;DR: In this article, the authors proposed a secure content distribution method for a configurable general-purpose electronic commercial transaction/distribution control system, which includes a process for encapsulating digital information in one or more digital containers, a process of encrypting at least a portion of digital information, a protocol for associating at least partially secure control information for managing interactions with encrypted digital information and/or digital container, and a process that delivering one or multiple digital containers to a digital information user.
Abstract: PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem, wherein it is impossible for an electronic content information provider to provide commercially secure and effective method, for a configurable general-purpose electronic commercial transaction/distribution control system. SOLUTION: In this system, having at least one protected processing environment for safely controlling at least one portion of decoding of digital information, a secure content distribution method comprises a process for encapsulating digital information in one or more digital containers; a process for encrypting at least a portion of digital information; a process for associating at least partially secure control information for managing interactions with encrypted digital information and/or digital container; a process for delivering one or more digital containers to a digital information user; and a process for using a protected processing environment, for safely controlling at least a portion of the decoding of the digital information. COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

7,643 citations

Patent
11 Sep 1998
TL;DR: In this paper, a method and system for placing an order to purchase an item via the Internet is described, where an order is placed by a purchaser at a client system and received by a server system.
Abstract: A method and system for placing an order to purchase an item via the Internet. The order is placed by a purchaser at a client system and received by a server system. The server system receives purchaser information including identification of the purchaser, payment information, and shipment information from the client system. The server system then assigns a client identifier to the client system and associates the assigned client identifier with the received purchaser information. The server system sends to the client system the assigned client identifier and an HTML document identifying the item and including an order button. The client system receives and stores the assigned client identifier and receives and displays the HTML document. In response to the selection of the order button, the client system sends to the server system a request to purchase the identified item. The server system receives the request and combines the purchaser information associated with the client identifier of the client system to generate an order to purchase the item in accordance with the billing and shipment information whereby the purchaser effects the ordering of the product by selection of the order button.

1,828 citations

Patent
19 Sep 1995
TL;DR: In this article, a personal communications internetworking (PCIOW) system is proposed to provide a network subscriber with the ability to remotely control the receipt and delivery of wireless and wireline voice and text messages.
Abstract: A personal communications internetworking (40) provides a network subscriber with the ability to remotely control the receipt and delivery of wireless and wireline voice and text messages. The network operates as an interface between various wireless (39) and wireline (29) networks, and also performs media translation, where necessary. The subscriber's message receipt and delivery options are maintained in a database which the subscriber may access by wireless or wireline communications to update the options programmed in the database. The subscriber may be provided with Call/Command service which provides real-time control of voice calls while using a wireless data terminal (32, 34) or PDA (30).

1,650 citations

Patent
07 Apr 2000
TL;DR: In this article, a computer implemented online music distribution system provides for the secure delivery of audio data and related media, including text and images, over a public communications network, through multiple layers of encryption, and the cryptographic binding of purchased audio data to each specific purchaser.
Abstract: A computer implemented online music distribution system provides for the secure delivery of audio data and related media, including text and images, over a public communications network. The online music distribution system provides security through multiple layers of encryption, and the cryptographic binding of purchased audio data to each specific purchaser. The online music distribution system also provides for previewing of audio data prior to purchase. In one embodiment, the online music distribution system is a client-server system including a content manager, a delivery server, and an HTTP server, communicating with a client system including a Web browser and a media player. The content manager provides for management of media and audio content, and processing of purchase requests. The delivery server provides delivery of the purchased media data. The Web browser and HTTP server provide a communications interface over the public network between the content manager and media players. The media player provides for encryption of user personal information, and for decryption and playback of purchased media data. Security of purchased media data is enhanced in part by the use of a personal, digital passport in each media player. The digital passport contains identifying information that identifies the purchaser, along with confidential information, such as credit card number, and encryption data, such as the media player's public and private keys. The media player encryption data is used to encrypt purchased media data, which is decrypted in real time by the media player. The media player also displays confidential information, such as the purchaser's credit card number, during playback.

1,339 citations

Patent
16 Dec 2005
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present methods, systems and apparatuses for use in managing content on at least a local network, where the change is additional content on a first client device.
Abstract: The present embodiments provide methods, systems and apparatuses for use in managing content on at least a local network. Some embodiments provide a method for use in managing content that detects there is a change to content on a local network, determines whether the change is additional content on a first client device, determines whether the additional content can be identified, determines whether there is a predictive distribution scheme when the additional content is identified, distributes the additional content over the local network according the predictive distribution scheme when a predictive distribution scheme applies to the additional content, determines whether a new predictive distribution scheme can be defined when a predictive distribution scheme does not apply to the additional content, and saving the new predictive distribution scheme when a new predictive scheme can be defined.

1,152 citations