Abstract:
Embodiments of the invention comprise systems and methods related to the provision of location based services via a mobile communications device. In different embodiments, a communication system is described, comprising a mobile communications device, a mobile communications base station, and a server computer system. The location of the device may be correlated with certain user preferences stored on the server computer system. In various embodiments, components of the larger system are described. In some cases, various location related mapping functions for a device are discussed. In other embodiments, systems and methods which provide for activities to be undertaken based on the location of a device are described. In still other embodiments, the disclosure addresses systems and methods of efficiently determining the location of a mobile device. In some embodiments, different notification schemes based on the location of a device and specified preferences are described. In various other embodiments, the disclosure addresses systems and methods for keyword monitoring based on the location of a device.
Abstract:
Various embodiments of the invention provide methods and systems for receiving and recording video content on a wireless phone. Merely by way of example, one set of embodiments provides a wireless phone with the capability to receive a broadcast video signal and to decode, digitize and record the broadcast video signal. In other embodiments, the wireless phone has the capability to receive broadcast video signals and/or video signals streamed over a network and to record these signals. In still further embodiments, the wireless phone may receive video content transmitted over a wireless network and may format and/or encode the video content and record the video content. In some embodiments the wireless phone comprises a video player for playing video content.
Abstract:
A thermostat is provided that receives one or more inputs from at least one heating system of a climate control system, and initiates an appropriate action in response to the input. The thermostat can turn off a heat pump providing substandard heat and responsively turn on a fuel-fired auxiliary furnace. The thermostat may discontinue further operation of the auxiliary furnace upon receiving an operating error signal associated with the auxiliary furnace, and responsively turn on the heat pump to provide for continued heating. The thermostat may also discontinue operation of the fuel-fired furnace and turn on a circulating fan in response to an input signal indicating a furnace high-temperature or a carbon monoxide presence.
Abstract:
The present invention provides systems and methods for providing mobile users with requested resources. In one such method, first and second location indicators are received for a mobile user, with each of the location indicators having a time associated therewith. The method includes calculating a mobile vector of the mobile user and associating the mobile vector with a first network region. The method further includes identifying a second mobile user in the first network region having at least a portion of the requested resource, and sending a sub-resource request to the second mobile user. The sub-resource request causes the second mobile user to send at least a portion of the requested resource to the mobile user.
Abstract:
A clothes dryer has a heat source, preferably a heat pump, a rotating drum, and means to generate flow of air from the heat source to an inlet in the drum. At least two outlets are separated from each other in the drum to enable higher air flow rates without increase in pressure drop, resulting in reduced drying time.
Abstract:
T Systems and methods for providing picture-in-picture, or other multi-picture displays. Some of the systems include two or more video and/or data signals that are coupled to a transmission device. In addition, a selector signal is coupled to the transmission device. The transmission device also includes a video output that, based at least in part on the selector signal, provides a derivative of one of the video and/or data signals at a first compression and bandwidth, and the other video and/or data signal at a second compression and bandwidth. Various of the methods include utilize the systems to transmit two or more video outputs based at least in part on a selector signal.
Abstract:
A method of provisioning telecommunication offerings includes receiving from a first provider a message at a services clearing house to provision a telecommunication offering at a customer's premises and processing the request into a provisioning message. The method also includes directing the provisioning message to the customer's premises, thereby causing the offering to be provisioned at the customer's premises.
Abstract:
According to the invention, a network interface device for processing a telephone call is disclosed. The network interface device includes a first and second communication interfaces, a telephone switch and a controller. The first communication interface is coupled to at least one of a wireless phone network, a public switched telephone network (PSTN), and a voice over Internet protocol (VOIP) network. The first communication interface receives the telephone call from any of a number of callers that are remote to the network interface device. The second communication interface coupled to one or more phones at a user location where the one or more phones are associated with a telephone number that any of the callers can use to call the one or more phones. The telephone switch is coupled to both of the first communication interface and second communication interface and optionally routes an incoming phone call to the second communication interface if one or more access control rules permit routing the incoming phone call to the second communication interface. The controller analyzes the one or more access control rules and either routes the incoming phone call from the first communication interface to the second communication interface or prevents the incoming phone call from reaching the second communication interface. The one or more phones ring when the incoming call is routed to the second communication interface.
Abstract:
The present invention provides systems and methods for distributing content objects to a requester. Some of the systems include at least one content object origination, and two or more content object destinations. The two or more content object destinations are associated with customer premises. Communication links communicably couple the content object origination and at least one of the content object destinations, and at least two of the content object destinations. Local storage is associated with at least one of the content object destinations. A content object from the content object origination is maintained on a local storage associated with one of the content object destinations, and the content object is accessible via the local storage to another content object destination. The methods provide various ways for distributing content objects using systems similar to that previously described.
Abstract:
According to the invention, a telephonic communication system for integrating wireless phone service with home phone service is disclosed. The telephone communication system includes a first communication and second communication channels and a telephone switch. The first communication channel is coupled to a wireless phone and the second communication channel is coupled to an interface that is coupled to one or more wired phones at a user location. The first and second communication channels are accessible with a single telephone number. The telephone switch is coupled to the first and second communication channels and determines if the first and second communication channels should be simultaneously sent an incoming phone call directed to the telephone number.