A system that allows a user to access a secured area by confirming location of the user near the secured area and receipt of an access word by the system. A user in possession of a mobile device may be detected at the entrance to a secured location. The system can select a question asking for a passcode corresponding to certain access to the secured location. The question can be spoken to a user through a loudspeaker at the secured location. The user's spoken response can be processed by the system, for example using keyword spotting, to determine if the proper access word is included. If it is, the system can grant access to the secured area.

A vehicle remote assistance system includes a plurality of vehicles and a remote assistance apparatus. Each of the plurality of vehicles includes a calling unit that transmits a call to the remote assistance apparatus. The remote assistance apparatus includes an assigning unit that schedules the calls that are transmitted from the plurality of vehicles and assigning the calls to any of a plurality of operators. The calling unit transmits a cancelation of the call to the remote assistance apparatus when a reason for the call is resolved after the call is made. The assigning unit cancels scheduling of the call that corresponds to the cancelation that is transmitted from the vehicle.

A system that allows a user to access a secured area by confirming location of the user near the secured area and receipt of an access word by the system. A user in possession of a mobile device may be detected at the entrance to a secured location. The system can select a question asking for a passcode corresponding to certain access to the secured location. The question can be spoken to a user through a loudspeaker at the secured location. The user's spoken response can be processed by the system, for example using keyword spotting, to determine if the proper access word is included. If it is, the system can grant access to the secured area.

A system and method for controlling functions on devices is disclosed. An occurrence of a start of an event is determined. Based on determining the occurrence of the start, a respective registration of a respective device associated with a respective attendee of the event is received. Based on receiving the respective registration and determining the occurrence of the start of the event, temporary restrictions are applied to the respective device from which the respective registration is received. Based on determining an occurrence of an end of the event, the temporary restrictions are removed from the respective device.

A method performed by a mobile device includes dialling a telephone number belonging to a dialled party, querying a database or a server having a list of telephone numbers as to whether the dialled number is in the list. If the telephone number is in the list, then activating and/or displaying at least a keypad of the mobile device automatically without involving a user of the mobile device and simultaneously activating a speaker of the mobile device. The activating and/or displaying the keypad enabling the user to select or push on at least a key of the keypad. The selected or pushed key of the keypad being requested by the dialled party. Simultaneously activating the speaker enabling the user to hear the dialled party requesting the user of the mobile device to select or push the requested at least one key of the keypad.

A thermostat control system for monitoring and controlling environmental characteristics of a building includes a base station unit and a remote access unit continuously interfacing through instant wireless private direct connectivity. The system also includes a plurality of sensors that measure the environmental characteristics and provide the thermostat unit with the measurements.

Systems, devices, and techniques for multiple device and multiple line enabled computing devices and computing appliances are described herein. A device number can be assigned to a computing device and can be unique to the computing device. A plurality of alias numbers can be provided to the computing device and enabled for use by the computing device. Alias numbers can be enabled on multiple computing appliances, such that a user can transfer voice or video calls between devices using the alias numbers. Further, monitoring components in a home environment, for example, can be associated with one or more alias number so that security alerts can be provided to the various computing devices and computing appliances associated with the alias numbers.

A communication system capable of enabling one or more communication devices to remotely execute one or more applications includes one or more communication devices that are coupled to a data connection. At least one of the one or more communication devices is operable to communicate a request to establish a communication session over the data connection. The system also includes one or more application servers that are coupled to the data connection. At least one of the one or more application servers is adapted to execute an application to establish the requested communication session with the at least one communication device. The at least one application server resides at a location remote from the at least one communication device. The at least one application server communicates a request for processing service to the at least one communication device. The request for processing service is communicated to the at least one communication device over the data connection.

One general aspect includes a system for responsive activation of a vehicle feature for a vehicle, the system includes: an audio system configured to announce information and the vehicle feature; a memory configured to include one or more executable instructions; a controller configured to execute the executable instructions, and where the executable instructions enable the controller to: receive speech inputs from a vehicle occupant located in the vehicle, the speech inputs regarding the vehicle feature; retrieve vehicle feature information from vehicle feature information databases, in response to the received speech inputs; provide audio description information for the vehicle feature information; determine whether at least one received speech input includes a feature activation request; provide vehicle feature activation information to the vehicle feature, in response to a positive determination that the at least one received speech input includes the feature activation request.

Systems and methods for improving safety of a multi-function portable personal communications device can include determining a first position of the personal communications device, after a predetermined time interval, determining a second position of the personal communications device, determining the distance between the first position and the second position, determining the time interval in which the personal communications device moved from the first position and the second position, calculating an average velocity of the personal communications device based on the first position, the second position and the time interval and, if the average velocity of the personal communication device exceeds a predetermined value, sending an alert or inhibiting a function of the personal communications device. Other systems and methods that improve safety are also disclosed.