| Patent application number | Description | Published |
| 20080274633 | REVERSIBLE UNIVERSAL SERIAL BUS (USB) CONNECTOR - A reversible receptacle for coupling with a USB A-type standard connector, including a first set of four electrical contact regions and a second set of four electrical contact regions, the contact regions configured such that in a first coupling orientation of the reversible receptacle with the standard plug, only the first set of electrical contact regions is mechanically connected with the contacts of the standard plug and in a second coupling orientation of the reversible receptacle with the standard plug, only the second set of electrical contact regions is mechanically connected with the contacts of the standard plug. Also provided are corresponding reversible USB appliances based upon the aforementioned reversible receptacles. | 11-06-2008 |
| 20090042612 | MULTI-ACCESS SOLID STATE MEMORY DEVICES AND A TELEPHONE UTILIZING SUCH - A mobile telephone device, comprising, an enclosure; a plurality of hardware components that provide the functionality of a cellular telephone or a satellite telephone, at least some of said components being inside or on said enclosure; a solid state non-volatile storage system inside of said enclosure; and a directly accessible connection for said storage system, adapted to connect to an external host system. | 02-12-2009 |
| 20090298520 | MULTI-ACCESS SOLID STATE MEMORY DEVICES AND A TELEPHONE UTILIZING SUCH - A method of sending e-mail from a computer, including attaching a telephone to a computer, saving at least one e-mail message from the computer on the telephone, activating the telephone, and automatically sending the e-mail message after the activating. | 12-03-2009 |
| 20100052306 | HYBRID STORAGE OF DOCUMENTS - A hybrid storage apparatus for retaining printed content and storing digital content includes a loose-leaf binder configured to retain printed pages containing printed content, and a storage device that is fixedly attached to the loose-leaf binder. The storage device includes a socket port detachably connect to a cable, and a non-volatile memory coupled to the socket port and configured for storing digital content. The cable is separate from the hybrid storage apparatus and used for communicating with a host. Also provided is a hybrid storage apparatus for holding print media and for storing digital content that includes a plurality of pages containing printed content, a cover for retaining the pages, and a storage device that is fixedly attached to or embedded within the cover. The pages include at least one page that displays a table of contents and refers to the digital content items stored in the non-volatile memory. | 03-04-2010 |
| 20100147041 | TETHERING ARRANGEMENT FOR PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICES - In a portable electronic device having an anti-theft functionality and a separate user-operable useful functionality, a method of using the portable electronic device includes operating the user-operable useful functionality; using the anti-theft functionality, wherein using the anti-theft functionality includes inserting an anchor into a socket of the portable electronic device, the anchor being connected to an object separate from the portable electronic device; locking the anchor in the socket to thereby secure the anchor to the portable electronic device; and unlocking the anchor from the socket upon verifying an unlock code that is received at the portable electronic device. The portable electronic device includes a locking mechanism switchable between a locked position in which the anchor is secured to the socket, and an unlocked position in which the anchor is not locked in the socket. The portable electronic device has a processor that is adapted to execute the user-operable useful functionality, receive an unlock code, and to transition the locking mechanism into the unlock position upon verifying the received unlock code. | 06-17-2010 |
| 20100268656 | Method and Apparatus for Arranging Face-to-Face Meetings - Individuals, couples, and families subscribe to a community for facilitating the arrangement of their outings and social meetings. Subscribers fill in wish-lists to specify their level of interest in specific attractions, in getting together with specific other subscribers, and in arranging their specific schedules for outings. An encounter generator processes the subscriber wish-lists to identify matches of subscribers who are interested in the same attraction, who favor each other's company, and who are free at the same time. The system notifies the matched subscribers, optionally offering ticketing and/or reservation assistance. Partial matches are optionally referred to the respective subscribers for negotiating the unmatched schedule or attraction. The system is adaptable to serve singles who wish to identify and get to know a prospective mate through mutual visits to attractions, as well as individuals, couples, and families who want to go out with their existing friends or make new friends. | 10-21-2010 |
| 20100312692 | COMPACT PAYMENT TERMINAL - A compact payment terminal for operating upon a purchase made by a customer at a retail device is provided. The customer carries a mobile communication device that includes a payment module and a communication module. The compact payment terminal includes a first interface for interfacing with the retail device, a second interface for interfacing with the mobile communication device of the customer and a processing unit connected to the first and second interface. The compact payment terminal is configured to receive, via the first interface, a payment request from the retail device, cooperate, via the second interface, with the payment module of the mobile communication device for initiating a payment transaction respective to the payment request, and selectably conduct, via the second interface and the communication module of the mobile communication device, a communication session between the processing unit and at least one server. | 12-09-2010 |
| 20110035385 | Method and Apparatus for Managing Interpersonal Activities - An apparatus and method for managing interpersonal activities among subscribers. A processor picks two subscribers for a meeting, and assigns them matched face-to-face or virtual assignments that are either identical or complementary. Assignments are selected by a processor according to preferences previously received from the picked subscribers. A random factor may affect the assignment selection. The level of intensity and/or intimacy of assignments selected by the processor may be responsive to the number of previous meetings of the picked subscribers. | 02-10-2011 |