Preprocessing Logic to Enhance Videotelephony Services During Suboptimal Network Conditions

This publication describes processes and techniques, implemented on a computing device, directed at enhancing videotelephony services during suboptimal network conditions. In an aspect, a several-stepped process employs a machine-learned technique through which captured frames (e.g., images captured by a videotelephony application) can be segmented and altered, such that an object of interest can be presented with a static background. The entirety of this process referred to herein as preprocessing logic, occurs prior to encoding

Globally Non-Deterministic, Locally Deterministic Unique Identifier to Enable Local Tracking of a Connected Wi-Fi Access Point

This publication describes methods of preserving user privacy through the prevention of Wi-Fi location tracking by generating a unique identifier (UID) for a Wi-Fi access point (AP) on a per-computing device basis (e.g., a first UID is generated for use by a first computing device, a second UID is generated for use by a second computing device). The generated UIDs are locally deterministic (unique to a specific computing device), but globally non-deterministic (different UIDs are generated for different computing devices)

Optimizing WLAN Access Point Scans for VOIMS

WLAN-to-WLAN handover decisions and WLAN-to-WWAN handover decisions for a portable user device conducting a VoIMS call typically are based on a scan list that lists identified WLAN APs and their detected signal quality characteristics. The conventional approach of periodically updating the scan list can result in an out-of-date listing of available WLAN APs and their signal quality characteristics, which can result in sub-optimal handover decisions and thus a sub-optimal voice call experience. The handover decision process is improved by using other triggers to initiate an updated WLAN AP scan, including using activation of a dialer GUI or other indication that a voice call is about to be placed, degradation of a WWAN connection supporting a current voice call, and the like. Through increases in the frequency of WLAN AP scans balanced against the power consumed by such scans, a more accurate and timelier WLAN AP scan list is made available for handover decisions, and thereby supporting a higher-quality voice call experience

PROXIMITY-BASED SETTINGS AND FUNCTIONALITY

A first computing device (e.g., a smart speaker, a smart television, etc.) may employ ultrawide band (UWB) technology (e.g., signals with a bandwidth higher than 20% of its center frequency, or signals with a bandwidth higher than 0.5 gigahertz (GHz)) to locate a second computing device (e.g., a smartphone, mobile phone, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a wearable device, etc.) in order to automatically perform various actions based on the distance (and, optionally, relative position) between the first computing device and the second computing device. In some examples, the first computing device may use time-of-flight to determine distance between the first computing device and the second computing device. In some examples, the first computing device may select one or more actions to perform based on attributes (e.g., interests, preferences, settings, child or adult, etc.) of the user of the second computing device and the distance between the first computing device and the second computing device. For example, the first computing device may start audio playback of the user’s favorite songs when the second computing device is close to the first computing device (e.g., within 10 meters (m)) and stop audio playback when the second computing device is far from the first computing device (e.g., further than 10 m)