Patent number 20090282245 is for a security method and system for media playback devices. A Digital Rights Management (DRM) system for distribution of digital content such as audio or video uses a method to enhance security of the content from unauthorized access and use, including access by unauthorized players. The method does not necessarily require a token exchange and thereby minimizes storage demands on the server which distributes the digital content. The system generates and distributes keys for decryption of the digital content whereby the keys are unique to a specific player and user account. The inventors are Augustin J. Farrugia, Mathieu Ciet and Pierre Betouin.

Patent number 20090278700 involves audio status info for a portable electronic device. Improved techniques for providing status information associated with an electronic device to its user in an audible manner are disclosed. The status information can pertain to one or more conditions of the electronic device. The conditions can vary depending on the nature of the electronic device. As an example, where the electronic device is battery powered, one condition of the electronic device that can be monitored is a battery charge level. The inventors are Greg Marriott and Andrew Bert Hodge.

Patent number 20090279393 involves playing data from a media device. Example embodiments provide various techniques for playing data from an optical media drive. The optical media drive may detect certain media access information for use in accessing optical media. This media access information is stored in a memory that is configured to retain the media access information after the optical media drive is deactivated. The optical media drive reads the data from an optical media and this data is transferred to a buffer until, with reference to some threshold parameter, the optical media drive is deactivated. The optical media drive may be reactivated in reference to another threshold parameter and the media access information is thereafter retrieved from the memory. The optical media drive may then read from the optical media using the provided media access information. The inventor is Paul J. Wehrenberg.

Patent number 20090282336 is for automated digital media presentations. Among other things, techniques and systems are disclosed for implementing an automated presentation of media content having associated metadata. The system provides an automated transition that corresponds to a relationship between a first media content item's metadata and metadata associated with a second media content item. The automated system also provides an automated information overlay that corresponds to a relationship between a first media content item's associated metadata and metadata associated with a second media content item. The automated system also can obtain information corresponding to metadata of the media content and provides automated information overlays while displaying the media content in a presentation. The inventors are Gregory Charles Lindley and Timothy B. Martin.

Patent number 20090281843 involves calendar scheduling systems. In one embodiment, a client system receives an input, within a calendar application program, to schedule an event, the input specifying at least one of the event, a representation of a location for the event, or metadata of a physical facility at the location, and the client system transmits the input to a calendar server to determine an availability of at least one physical facility at the location and receives and presents data specifying the availability of at least one physical facility at the location. The client system may further cause an invitation to be sent to attendees of the event. Other systems and other methods are also described. The inventors are Patrick L. Coffman, Haley E. Allen and Stacey Ford Lysik.

Patent number 20090278407 is for a method and system for discovering a power source on a peripheral bus. Improved techniques to recognize a power source on a peripheral bus and/or determine power available from the power source via the peripheral bus are disclosed. Typically, the peripheral bus is supported by a cable connected between a host device and an electronic device. In this case, the host device is a power source (e.g., power adapter or battery pack) and the cable is used to provide power from the power source to the electronic device. Hence, by understanding the power available from the power source, the electronic device can manage its power utilization so as to operate in a stable and reliable manner. The electronic device is, for example, a portable computing device. Examples of portable computing devices include a Portable Digital Assistant (PDA) and a portable media player. The inventors are David John Tupman, Ken Herman and Barry Twycross.

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