A device includes at least one of a mechanical component or an electrical component and an Internet enabled embedded system that controls at least one of the mechanical component or the electrical component. The Internet enabled embedded system is configured to establish a connection to a local area network (LAN), provide data to a registration service via the connection to the LAN, receive from the registration service an instruction to implement a specified registration technique, and implement the specified registration technique. The registration service is configured to bind the embedded system to a user account responsive to satisfaction of a criterion of the specified registration technique.

An electronic device with an antenna device is provided. The electronic device includes a case member that includes a first face, a second face disposed opposite to the first face, and side walls that enclose a space between the first face and the second face, a first metallic member that forms at least a portion of the side walls of the case member or is formed adjacent to the side walls, a metal pattern disposed within the case member and extends from a portion of the first metallic member to another portion of the first metallic member, the first metallic member and the metal pattern electrically forming at least a portion of a closed loop, a wireless communication circuit electrically connected to a portion of the metal pattern, a ground member positioned within the case member, and a portion of the metal pattern disposed adjacent to the ground member.

A method includes configuring a device, which is capable of operating in accordance with a first capability level, at a second capability level that is less than the first capability level. The method also includes identifying a problem or situation in which the first capability level is needed and reconfiguring the device to operate in accordance with the first capability level, in response to identifying the problem or situation. The method may further include determining that the problem or situation has been resolved and configuring the device to operate in accordance with the second capability level, in response to determining that the problem or situation has been resolved.

A device case has a body forming a compartment holding an electronic device with a back facing camera lens and a front side with a user interface display and front facing camera lens. The device case has a movable lens cover attached to the body and held by the body when moved to any of an open position, a first position, and a second position. The movable lens cover, in the open position, leaves the front facing camera lens, the user interface display, and the back facing camera lens exposed. The movable lens cover, in the first position, covers the back facing camera lens while leaving the user interface display and the front facing camera lens exposed, and when in the second position, covers both the front facing camera lens and the back facing camera lens while leaving the user interface display exposed.

An apparatus for enveloping a portable communication or storage device includes a plurality of walls configured to at least partially enclose the portable communication or storage device. The apparatus also includes a processor, and a first shutter that is associated with one or more of the walls. The first shutter is operatively coupled to the processor, and is disposed so as to overlie a first camera lens of the portable communication or storage device. The first shutter has a first condition in which the taking of digital impressions with the first camera lens is unobstructed, and a second condition in which the taking of digital impressions with the first camera lens is hindered. The processor is configured to verify that a plurality of conditions is met before allowing the first shutter to toggle between the first and second conditions of that first shutter.

When a wireless device is outside of its home service area, the device typically has to use expensive roaming data or phone services. However, as herein described, a global SIM may be inbuilt into a device, plugged into a second SIM port of the device, or may be added onto a device through one of the existing ports of the device. The global SIM allows the user to register for a service plan with a local service provider when in a foreign country. A software application on the wireless device can control the selection and purchase of local service plans, as well as control the switching of SIM data to ensure that a local SIM is used when traveling. The global SIM is capable of storing multiple registered service plans and the necessary data for the wireless device to operate as a local device when outside of the home service area.

A system and a method in which image-capturing is effected automatically or manually. When a user-carried mobile terminal receives a near field wireless signal from a near field wireless signal transmitting station installed in an image-capturing field area, it is determined that a user is present within the image-capturing field of the externally installed image-capturing device and the user-carried communication terminal transmits automatically or manually an image-capturing request to the externally installed image-capturing device. In response, the externally installed image-capturing device effects image-capturing and then transmits the obtained image to an image server. After transmission of the image-capturing request, the user-carried mobile communication terminal makes a downloading request to the image server and effects downloading via a network and the downloaded data is automatically stored within the user-carried mobile communication terminal.

A communication device includes a communication unit, a communication function allocation unit, a communication status determination unit, and a communication control unit. The communication unit performs communications with another communication device using a plurality of communication paths. The communication function allocation unit allocates communication functions to each of the communication paths in the communication unit. The communication status determination unit determines a communication status for each of the communication paths. The communication control unit controls communications for each of the communication paths in accordance with allocation by the communication function allocation unit and a determination result of the communication status determination unit.

Embodiments are directed to a sealed pipe-loaded loudspeaker for augmenting low frequency response in a portable electronic device. A loudspeaker transducer is configured to radiate sound directly out of a forward radiation area and incidentally out of a rearward radiation area, and a sealed transmission line forming a closed pipe acoustically coupled to the transducer through which the rearward radiation propagates to produce standing waves corresponding to the dimensions of the closed pipe, wherein resonances apply a loading to a diaphragm element of the transducer to lower its resonance frequency. An acoustical wave front radiates away from the diaphragm element for the direct sound and is emitted outside of the device, and the rearward radiation is not emitted from the device.

A unitary handheld portable module includes a keypad for entering data and a display for displaying data. A base module is configured to be coupled with and communicate through a telephone line and includes a keypad for dialing a telephone number and a display for displaying information. The portable and base modules are configured to have a mounted configuration in which the portable module is removably mounted on the base module and covers the base module's display, and the modules communicate with each other for the portable module's display to display information relating to operation of the base module.