Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110231216 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING EVENT REMINDERS - A system and method are provided for obtaining data that could affect event details, such that this data can be used to generate alerts that are sent early enough to give the user time to reach the event, predict lateness, arrange replacements/delegates, reschedule, cancel meetings in advance, etc. By more intelligently providing reminders to the user, the above-described unforeseen circumstances can be dealt with. In some embodiments, an aggregation of various external data sources as well as internal data can be used to better predict when a user should be reminded of the time for their event, determine and advise whether they may be late regardless, and/or enable the user to arrange a delegate or replacement or to reschedule or cancel the event. | 09-22-2011 |
20110238671 | METHOD, SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR EFFICIENTLY DETERMINING PRIORITY OF DATA IN A DATABASE - A method and apparatus for determining priority of data in a database managed by a computing device are provided. The data comprises a list of events, the computing device comprising a processing unit interconnected with a memory device and a display device. Context data is processing at the processing unit to determine a priority ranking for each of the items, wherein processing the context data to determine a priority ranking comprises at least one of processing attendance data, location, event data, and telephone record data. Respective areas of the display device are controlled to provide visual representations of each of the events, each respective area controlled according to the priority ranking. | 09-29-2011 |
20110252097 | PREDICTING MEETING ATTENDANCE - Described is a method of configuring a meeting event stored on an organizing device. The meeting event comprises a meeting event location, a meeting event start time and a meeting event end time. The method comprises receiving prediction information for at least one meeting participant from at least one participant device, the prediction information for predicting attendance at the meeting event; and, in response to receiving prediction information for the at least one meeting participant, selectively altering one of the meeting event location, the meeting event start time and the meeting event end time. | 10-13-2011 |
20120034867 | COMMUNICATION SYSTEM PROVIDING CONTEXT-BASED MOBILE WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE POWER CONSUMPTION MANAGEMENT AND RELATED METHODS - A communication system may include a plurality of near-field communication (NFC) sensors each associated with a respective location, and a mobile wireless communications device(s) switchable among a plurality of different power consumption modes. The mobile wireless communications device(s) may include a portable housing, an NFC circuit carried by the housing and configured to establish NFC communications with at least one of the NFC sensors when in proximity therewith, and a plurality of different wireless communications circuits carried by the housing. The mobile wireless communications device(s) may further include a controller carried by the housing and coupled to the NFC circuit and the different wireless communications circuits which may be configured to switch to a given power consumption mode based upon the at least one NFC sensor. In particular, some of the different power consumption modes may be associated with selectively powering respective ones of the wireless communications circuits. | 02-09-2012 |
20120040610 | NEAR-FIELD COMMUNICATION (NFC) SYSTEM PROVIDING LOW POWER MODE FREQUENCY CYCLING AND RELATED METHODS - A near-field communication (NFC) system may include a plurality of NFC devices each including a housing, a power source carried by the housing, at least one input device carried by the housing and assigned to a designated device function, an NFC circuit configured to wirelessly communicate using an NFC communications protocol, and a processor. The processor may be configured to initiate the designated device function based upon a first input pattern of the at least one input device, switch the NFC circuit between a higher power state and a lower power state at a first frequency, the NFC circuit in the higher power state being configured to generate an RF field to initiate NFC communications, and switch the NFC circuit between the higher and lower power states at a second frequency based upon a second input pattern of the input device(s) different from the first input pattern. | 02-16-2012 |
20120075057 | COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM PROVIDING PERSONNEL ACCESS BASED UPON NEAR-FIELD COMMUNICATION AND RELATED METHODS - A security system may include an access control device associated with a personnel access position. The access control device may include a first Near-Field Communication (NFC) sensor, and a first controller configured to selectively grant personnel access based upon receiving a valid security code from the first NFC sensor, and to deny personnel access and generate an access denial electronic message(s) based upon receiving an invalid security code from the first NFC sensor. The system may also include a mobile wireless communications device(s) including a second NFC sensor and a second controller, which may be configured to communicate a security code via the second NFC sensor to the first NFC sensor based upon proximity therewith, and to receive a corresponding access denial electronic message from the first controller based upon the security code being invalid. | 03-29-2012 |
20120075068 | RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION (RFID) SYSTEM PROVIDING MEETING ROOM RESERVATION AND SCHEDULING FEATURES AND RELATED METHODS - A meeting room reservation system may include at least one radio frequency identification (RFID) sensor to be positioned adjacent a meeting room, and a plurality of mobile wireless communications devices, each configured for RFID communication with the at least one RFID sensor. The system may further include a reservation server configured to schedule reserved starting and ending times for the meeting room, track checked-in mobile wireless communications devices based upon RFID communication with the at least one RFID sensor, and send at least one reservation expiration notification based upon a reserved ending time and a subsequent check-in of another mobile wireless communications device. | 03-29-2012 |
20120077431 | COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM PROVIDING PERSONNEL ACCESS BASED UPON NEAR-FIELD COMMUNICATION AND RELATED METHODS - A security system may include an access control device associated with a personnel access position. The access control device may include a first Near-Field Communication (NFC) sensor, and a first controller configured to selectively grant personnel access based upon receiving a valid security code from the first NFC sensor, and to deny personnel access and generate an access denial electronic message(s) based upon receiving an invalid security code from the first NFC sensor. The system may also include a mobile wireless communications device(s) including a second NFC sensor and a second controller, which may be configured to communicate a security code via the second NFC sensor to the first NFC sensor based upon proximity therewith, and to receive a corresponding access denial electronic message from the first controller based upon the security code being invalid. | 03-29-2012 |
20120077432 | MOBILE WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE ESTABLISHING WIRELESS COMMUNICATION LINKS BASED UPON NEAR FIELD COMMUNICATION AND RELATED METHODS - A wireless communications system may include first and second mobile wireless communications devices each comprising a respective input device, wireless transceiver, near-field communication (NFC) transceiver, and controller coupled to the input device, wireless transceiver and NFC transceiver. At least one of the controllers may be configured to establish an NFC communications link between the NFC transceivers when the first and second mobile wireless communications devices are in proximity, provide a temporary device identifier (ID) via the NFC communications link, request authorization to establish a wireless link between the wireless transceivers, provide a permanent device ID upon receiving the authorization and based upon the temporary device ID, and establish the wireless link between the wireless transceivers based upon the permanent device ID. | 03-29-2012 |
20120167232 | Mobile Device for Authenticating A Device Accessory - A mobile device for authenticating a device accessory is disclosed. The mobile device receives a unique identifier from a device accessory, sends the received unique identifier to a server via a communication network, and receives information from the server relating to the unique identifier. | 06-28-2012 |
20120196530 | MOBILE DEVICE HAVING ENHANCED IN-HOLSTER POWER SAVING FEATURES AND RELATED METHODS - A communications system may include a holder, a first near-field communication (NFC) device carried by the holder, and a mobile device. The mobile device may include a housing configured to be removably positioned within the holder, a second NFC device carried by the housing and configured to communicate with the first NFC device via NFC communications, and a controller carried by the housing and coupled to the second NFC device. The controller may be configured to operate the second NFC device to scan for the first NFC device in a first mode when the housing is removed from the holder, and operate the second NFC device in a second mode based upon communication with the first NFC device when the housing is positioned within the holder, where the second mode has a lower power consumption level associated therewith than the first mode. | 08-02-2012 |
20120202421 | MOBILE WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE TO DETECT MOVEMENT OF AN ADJACENT NON-RADIATING OBJECT AND ASSOCIATED METHODS - A mobile wireless communications device includes a wireless transceiver, a Near Field Communications (NFC) device, and a processor. The processor is configured to cooperate with the wireless transceiver for wireless communications. The processor is also configured to detect movement of a non-radiating object adjacent the NFC device, and perform at least one function based upon the detected movement. | 08-09-2012 |
20120214413 | MOBILE WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE ESTABLISHING WIRELESS COMMUNICATION LINKS BASED UPON NEAR FIELD COMMUNICATION AND RELATED METHODS - A wireless communications system may include first and second mobile wireless communications devices each comprising a respective input device, wireless transceiver, near-field communication (NFC) transceiver, and controller coupled to the input device, wireless transceiver and NFC transceiver. At least one of the controllers may be configured to establish an NFC communications link between the NFC transceivers when the first and second mobile wireless communications devices are in proximity, provide a temporary device identifier (ID) via the NFC communications link, request authorization to establish a wireless link between the wireless transceivers, provide a permanent device ID upon receiving the authorization and based upon the temporary device ID, and establish the wireless link between the wireless transceivers based upon the permanent device ID. | 08-23-2012 |
20120220223 | WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM PROVIDING MEDIA CONTENT TRANSFER FEATURES AND RELATED METHODS - A wireless communications system may include a first electronic device comprising a first media content playback device, a first wireless transceiver, and a first controller coupled with the first media content playback device and the first wireless transceiver. The system may further include a second electronic device comprising a second media content playback device, a second wireless transceiver configured to wirelessly communicate with the first wireless transceiver, and a second controller coupled with the second media content playback device and the second wireless transceiver. The first controller may be configured to generate a playback pointer associated with playback of given media content, and wirelessly communicate the playback pointer to the second controller. The second controller may be configured to play back the given media content based upon the playback pointer, and without receiving the given media content from the first electronic device. | 08-30-2012 |
20120221695 | METHODS AND APPARATUS TO INTEGRATE LOGICAL AND PHYSICAL ACCESS CONTROL - Methods and apparatus to control access are described. One example method includes allowing physical access and logic access based on a credential associated with a mobile device, monitoring logical access by the mobile device, and revoking a physical access privilege based on termination of logical access by the mobile device. Other implementations are possible. | 08-30-2012 |
20130017780 | COMMUNICATION SYSTEM UTILIZING NEAR FIELD COMMUNICATION (NFC) TO PROVIDE ENHANCED TELECONFERENCE FEATURES AND RELATED METHODSAANM Rose; Scott DouglasAACI WaterlooAACO CAAAGP Rose; Scott Douglas Waterloo CAAANM Griffin; Jason TylerAACI KitchenerAACO CAAAGP Griffin; Jason Tyler Kitchener CAAANM Lazaridis; MihalAACI WaterlooAACO CAAAGP Lazaridis; Mihal Waterloo CA - A communication system may include a plurality of conferencing endpoints at different locations and capable of being coupled to a telecommunication network, a respective near field communication (NFC) device associated with each conferencing endpoint, and a plurality of electronic devices. Each electronic device may be configured to register at one of the conferencing endpoints for a teleconference between the plurality of conferencing endpoints based upon communication with a respective NFC device associated with the one of the conferencing endpoints. At least one of the electronic devices may be further configured to provide a notification based upon a security level associated with another electronic device being registered for the teleconference. | 01-17-2013 |
20130233925 | PORTABLE SMART CARD READER HAVING SECURE WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS CAPABILITY - A reader device includes a housing for receiving a smart card, a processor in electronic communication with an integrated circuit chip of the smart card when the smart card is received in the housing, a wireless communications device in electronic communication with the processor for enabling the reader device to transmit first encrypted information wirelessly and to receive second encrypted information wirelessly, and a memory in electronic communication with the processor that includes one or more routines executable by the processor. The one or more routines include a cryptographic module adapted to encrypt first information to create the first encrypted information and decrypt the second encrypted information to obtain second information. In addition, a communication system that includes the reader device and a computing device, wherein the reader device and computing device are able to wirelessly exchange information in a secure manner. | 09-12-2013 |
20130331027 | COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM PROVIDING REMOTE ACCESS VIA MOBILE WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE AND RELATED METHODS - A mobile wireless communications device may include a first wireless transceiver, a second wireless transceiver having a longer communication range than the first wireless transceiver, and a controller coupled with the first wireless transceiver and the second wireless transceiver. The controller may be capable of transmitting, via the first wireless transceiver, an access request to an access control device associated with an access position, and receive a first identifier from the access control device based upon the access request. The controller may be further capable of transmitting, via the second wireless transceiver, an authentication request to an authentication server based upon the first identifier and a second identifier associated with the mobile wireless communications device, and receive an authentication response based upon the authentication request. The controller may also be capable of transmitting, via the first wireless transceiver, the authentication response to the access control device. | 12-12-2013 |
20130337775 | WIRELESS PERSONAL AREA NETWORK HAVING AUTHENTICATION AND ASSOCIATED METHODS - A wireless personal area network (WPAN) system includes a plurality of WPAN devices using encrypted wireless communication therebetween when in an enabled state and not wirelessly communicating when in a disabled state. At least one of the WPAN devices includes a WPAN identity reader for reading at least one identifying parameter of a user, for confirming that the user is an authorized user based upon reading the at least one identifying parameter, and for wirelessly communicating with at least one other WPAN device to switch the at least one other WPAN device from the disabled state to the enabled state based upon confirming the user is an authorized user. | 12-19-2013 |
20140023204 | PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEM USING WIRELESS MOBILE COMMUNICATION DEVICES - A public address system is set forth, comprising at least one wireless mobile communication device; a sound system; and a back-end system for selectively receiving a wireless signal from the wireless mobile communication device and transmitting the signal to the sound system for broadcast. | 01-23-2014 |
20140148096 | CREATING SMART NFC POSTERS - Systems, methods, devices, and computer programming products for making and writing data to NFC-enabled “smart” posters, and posters made in accordance therewith. | 05-29-2014 |
20140203904 | COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM PROVIDING PERSONNEL ACCESS BASED UPON NEAR-FIELD COMMUNICATION AND RELATED METHODS - A security system may include an access control device associated with a personnel access position. The access control device may include a first Near-Field Communication (NFC) sensor, and a first controller configured to selectively grant personnel access based upon receiving a valid security code from the first NFC sensor, and to deny personnel access and generate an access denial electronic message(s) based upon receiving an invalid security code from the first NFC sensor. The system may also include a mobile wireless communications device(s) including a second NFC sensor and a second controller, which may be configured to communicate a security code via the second NFC sensor to the first NFC sensor based upon proximity therewith, and to receive a corresponding access denial electronic message from the first controller based upon the security code being invalid. | 07-24-2014 |
20140372454 | METHOD, SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR EFFICIENTLY DETERMINING PRIORITY OF DATA IN A DATABASE - A method and apparatus for determining priority of data in a database managed by a computing device are provided. The data comprises a list of events, the computing device comprising a processing unit interconnected with a memory device and a display device. Context data is processing at the processing unit to determine a priority ranking for each of the items, wherein processing the context data to determine a priority ranking comprises at least one of processing attendance data, location, event data, and telephone record data. Respective areas of the display device are controlled to provide visual representations of each of the events, each respective area controlled according to the priority ranking. | 12-18-2014 |