Samsung 360-degree camera for VR - US Patent Application 20170195533 Electronic Device for Image Photographing

(Samsung Patent Application 20170195533, Source: USPTO)

Samsung Gear 360 Real 360 4K VR Camera

Field of the Disclosure: The present disclosure generally relates to an electronic device that is able to perform 360-degree image photographing.

Description of the Related Art: An action camera is focused on usability, and is generally a camera device that performs 360-degree image photographing in order to photograph an image that may be watched on virtual reality (VR) 

Samsung Gear 360 High Resolution VR Camera

Apple patent - Airpods with biometirc sesnsor US Patent 9,699,546

FIELD

The described embodiments relate generally to the integration of biometric sensors into an earbud. More particularly, the present embodiments are directed towards positioning a biometric sensor along an exterior surface of the earbud so it can be placed in direct contact with a portion of a user's ear during use of the earbud.

BACKGROUND

Portable electronic device users have shown increasing interest in biometric tracking Biometric sensors often need to be in close or even direct contact with the skin to properly measure and track biometric parameters along the lines of heart rate, VO.sub.2, and core temperature. Requiring a user to place a sensor in direct contact with the skin to track these types of biometric data can be overly burdensome, making adoption of the biometric tracking more difficult. Consequently, mechanisms for unobtrusively measuring biometric parameters are desirable.

Apple Presence Sensing - US Patent 20170193282

TECHNICAL FIELD 

[0002] The present disclosure is generally related to devices having computing capabilities and, more particularly, to sensing the presence of a user in local proximity to the device. 

BACKGROUND 

Many computing devices are equipped with power saving features/modes intended to reduce power consumption when a user is not using the devices. Often, these power saving features are implemented though timers that count down a set amount of time from when the user last provides an input to the device. For example, a particular device may be configured to enter a sleep mode, or other mode that consumes less power than a fully operational mode, when a user has not provided input for five minutes. 

Occasionally, however, a device may enter the power saving features/modes while a user is still using the device. For example, the power saving features may be entered because the user failed to provide input within the time period set for the timer while reading content on the device, viewing a movie, or listening to music. Additionally, recovery from the power saving feature/mode may take time, may even require the user to enter credentials, and generally may be a nuisance to the user. 

US Patent 8,209,618 - Method of sharing multi-media content among users in a global computer network

Technical Field 

Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a method for sharing multi-media content among users in a global computer network. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention relate to a method for managing an interactive computer network involving user-submitted multi-media content in a competitively structured format.

Description of the Related Art

Social interaction on computer networks has increased in popularity since the time when computer users first communicated with one another over a telecommunication connection. What started with electronic messages exchanged on the dial-in bulletin board systems ("BBS") in the early 1980s has blossomed into a variety of "online communities," such as, for example, chat rooms, on-line forums, web logs ("blogs"), as well as specialty Web sites that are dedicated to particular subjects, e.g., digital photographs. As data transfer rates continue to increase in step with the improvements in high speed data transfer technology, so too does the demand for computer networks that provide individuals with more interactive and creative features.

Some computer networks have tried to incorporate these features. Some are set-up in a manner that provides the user with tools and functions that facilitate communication between the users. They permit individuals to meet, talk, share ideas, and become acquainted without the users ever leaving the comfort of their own home. Typically these computer networks allocate storage space so that users can create, store and share information. This space is hosted by the computer network and available to anyone in the public domain with access to the Internet. Even more advanced computer networks permit users to identify individuals with distinct labels, such as, "friends," "buddies," and "links," among others. These labels help the user to organize their contacts, whether personal friends, relatives, or individuals in which they share a common interest, into a "social network." Such social networks simplify communication because the user can choose the individuals to whom they communicate regularly. But, computer networks that simply offer the user an scheme to organize those individuals to whom they send messages, chat, and share personal information, does not meet the needs of the users that wish to use their social network for higher-level interaction that involves complex data and information, like audio, videos, and images.

Thus, there is a need for an improved interactive portal that permits users to share such content in a social network setting and that utilizes this content in a manner to increase the interaction between the users of the portal.

Book: Ethereum: Blockchains, Digital Assets, Smart Contracts, Decentralized Autonomous Organizations by Henning Diedrich (

As IBM´s official liaison to the Ethereum core developers I gave talks on blockchain topics pretty much around the world. After one keynote I was asked for a non-technical guide to understand blockchains. This is it.

The book aims to help you get your head around blockchains in general and around Ethereum specifically. Since Ethereum is currently the pre-imminent blockchain, it makes sense as reference point. The essential stuff is the same for any blockchain.

This text was written for people with a fast grasp, who are not programmers. Reading this should give you the basics to cut through the hype and to identify blockchain opportunities in your professional domain. There are tiny bits of code, which can be admired and skipped.

We´ll look at Ethereum´s benefits first, how it is used and what can be done with it; then explain blockchain machinery, visiting the terms that you´ll be confronted with in every discussion about its application. Exactly what you need to tell the signal from the noise in the echo chamber of honest misunderstandings and desperate marketing.

We take a good hard look at limitations, throw in some history and names and give a realistic outlook.

The index reads like an FAQ and you can use the book like that. However, there is a strong build up, one chapter leading to the next, as optimized path to understanding all the interconnected, moving parts. There´s quite a number of them.

Blockchains are not a trivial topic. The fact that blockchain client programs are small has fooled many people into believing it can´t possibly be that hard. The challenges are in the implications though.

But what’s in this book will put you ahead of almost everyone outside the core bubble.

A deep dive into this field now – at least getting started – will help you to become part of the fun ahead. It should allow you to stand out, land deals or a great job.

It will also make you see first hand how early we are in the game.

Hopefully, we will find a contributor to the blockchain community in you, strengthening the portfolio of real-world use cases. Ideally, you´ll learn to navigate your own uncharted course through your domain and revolutionize it.

Book: Handbook of Digital Currency: Bitcoin, Innovation, Financial Instruments, and Big Data 1st Edition by David LEE Kuo Chuen

Incorporating currencies, payment methods, and protocols that computers use to talk to each other, digital currencies are poised to grow in use and importance. The Handbook of Digital Currency gives readers a way to learn about subjects outside their specialties and provides authoritative background and tools for those whose primary source of information is journal articles. Taking a cross-country perspective, its comprehensive view of the field includes history, technicality, IT, finance, economics, legal, tax and regulatory environment. For those who come from different backgrounds with different questions in mind, The Handbook of Digital Currency is an essential starting point.

• Discusses all major strategies and tactics associated with digital currencies, their uses, and their regulations
• Presents future scenarios for the growth of digital currencies
• Written for regulators, crime prevention units, tax authorities, entrepreneurs, micro-financiers, micro-payment businesses, cryptography experts, software developers, venture capitalists, hedge fund managers, hardware manufacturers, credit card providers, money changers, remittance service providers, exchanges, and academics
• Winner of the 2015 "Outstanding Business Reference Source" by the Reference and User Services Association (RUSA)

Book: Mastering Ethereum: Building Smart Contracts and Dapps 1st Edition by Andreas M. Antonopoulos, Gavin Wood

If you’re looking to get started with the Ethereum protocol—or are among the many open source developers, integrators, and system administrators already working with this platform—Mastering Ethereum is the definitive book on the topic. Authors Gavin Wood and Andreas Antonopoulos provide everything you need to know about building smart contracts and decentralized autonomous organizations on the Ethereum blockchain.

By bridging the world of cloud computing, grid computing, and blockchains, Ethereum has create a massive decentralized computing platform that many people are calling a "world computer." Ethereum has also spawned a rapidly growing ecosystem of software startups vying to build decentralized applications, known as "dapps".

With this practical guide, you’ll learn how to create markets, store registries of debts or promises, move funds in accordance with instructions given long in the past (like a will or a futures contract), and many other things that have not been invented yet, all without a middle man or counterparty risk.

Discover why IBM, Microsoft, NASDAQ, and other organizations have announced interest and/or development in this Turing-complete decentralized computing platform with Mastering Ethereum.