Abstract: The approximate location of a directed cell of a cellular network is calculated based on locations in the vicinity of which mobile devices were able to detect the directed cell. A mobile device is able to estimate its own location from the approximate locations of one or more directed cells that it can identify. This estimated location of the mobile device may be used to seed its GPS receiver.

Abstract: A wireless device in a discoverable mode controls its visibility by determining whether to ignore or respond to an inquiry, received from an inquiring device, based at least in part on one or more properties of the inquiring device.

Abstract: In a wireless device, active scanning for a particular wireless network name is initiated during passive scanning for a wireless network that matches a profile stored in a wireless local area network controller, the profile including the particular wireless network name. Active scanning for the particular wireless network name includes transmitting one or more probe requests, each transmitted on a different communication channel.

Abstract: There is disclosed a system and method for providing a standby mode in a handheld electronic device. In an embodiment, the method comprises initiating a standby mode upon actuation of a standby key in the handheld electronic device; displaying a confirmation message of entry into the standby mode; and disabling at least one feature of the handheld electronic device upon entry into the standby mode. The standby mode may be initiated by a single action actuation of the standby key.

Abstract: A method carried out by a first system for establishing a secure bidirectional communication path between the first system and a second system for an exchange of one or more messages is described. A first key pair having a first public key and a first private key is generated, and a second key pair having a second public key and a second private key is generated. The second public key is generated based upon a shared secret known to the first system and the second system. The second public key and the first public key are sent to the second system. A third public key and a fourth public key generated by the second system are received, wherein the fourth public key is generated based upon the shared secret. A master key is calculated based upon the first private key, the second private key, the third public key and the fourth public key, wherein the master key is configured to be used in encryption of one or more messages.

Abstract: A wireless device may alert a wireless smart card reader that communication of data between the wireless device and the wireless smart card reader is probably imminent by sending an activation alert. Upon receipt of the activation alert, if the wireless smart card reader is in a low-power state, the wireless smart card reader may enter a higher-power state. If the wireless smart card reader is in the higher-power state upon receipt of the activation alert, the wireless smart card reader may remain in the higher-power state until a timeout period has expired. The wireless device may instruct the wireless smart card reader to enter the low-power state by sending a deactivation alert if the wireless device identifies that communication of data between the wireless device and the wireless smart card reader is not likely to occur within a specified period of time.

Abstract: A wireless access point advertises data rates that it supports. A mobile station is permitted to communicate with the access point at one or more of the lower data rates only if the mobile station satisfies one or more conditions.

Abstract: A system and method for determining the magnetic sensitivity of a Hall-effect switch through the use of a variable powered DC electromagnet having a permanent magnet attached to it. In use the electromagnet is placed in contact with a Hall-effect switch component and the DC voltage varied until a detector determines the Hall-effect switch has been triggered. The electromagnet is then moved to be in contact with a probe connected to a Gauss meter to determine the magnetic sensitivity of the Hall-effect switch.

Abstract: A wireless device capable of wireless local area network (WLAN) communications and cellular network communications stores profiles of wireless local area networks. The device identifies in which cell of a cellular network the device is currently located, and then scans more frequently for wireless local area networks matching profiles to which, previously, the device has connected while located in the cell, than for wireless local area networks matching other profiles.

Abstract: The transmission of signaling frames in a QoS system may be prioritized over the transmission of content frames carrying time-sensitive information. The signaling frames and the content frames may belong to a single communication session. Alternatively, the signaling frames may belong to a different communication session than the content frames. The signaling frames and the content frames may be audio frames, video frames or frames of other time-sensitive information.

Abstract: It is not uncommon for two or more wireless-enabled devices to spend most of their time in close proximity to one another. For example, a person may routinely carry a personal digital assistant (PDA) and a portable digital audio/video player, or a cellphone and a PDA, or a smartphone and a gaming device. When it is desirable to increase the memory storage capacity of a first such device, it may be possible to use memory on one or more of the other devices to temporarily store data from the first device.

Abstract: A mobile communication device is able to communicate with wireless local area network and with a cellular network. A communication system is able to route a communication session between the mobile communication device and another communication device either by way of the wireless local area network or the cellular network. The communication system is able to trigger the mobile communication device via the cellular network to search for and attempt to connect to the wireless local area network. The mobile communication device, in response to reception of signaling via the cellular network, is able to activate a wireless local area network interface of the mobile communication device and to establish a connection to the wireless local area network.

Abstract: A first wireless device controls its visibility by disabling its discoverable mode or modes upon ascertaining that a second wireless device does not require the first device to be in a discoverable mode in order to establish connections therebetween.

Abstract: A method is presented for adapting the packet size for VoIP communications, determined on-the-fly by the total network delay inherent at the time of packet transmission. If network delays are small relative to the maximum permissible latency for VoIP communications, the payload size per packet may be increased to maximize efficiency for the transmitted call. Alternatively, if network delays are large, the payload size per packet may be decreased in order to assure that the perceived quality of the transmitted call is acceptable.

Abstract: In a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), roaming from one access point to another by a mobile station without interruption to network service may be facilitated by frequently performing background scans to find neighboring access points while the mobile station is associated to the WLAN. Frequent background scanning, however, depletes battery life. By dynamically adjusting the background scanning interval during the mobile station's association to the WLAN, the mobile station's immediate need for network connectivity performance may be met, while simultaneously prolonging battery life. For example, by using a shorter background scanning interval during a telephone conversation, network connectivity performance may be maintained throughout the call. Longer background scanning intervals may be used during periods when interruptions to network connectivity may be better tolerated.

Abstract: A device coupled to a smart card reader may request random data from a smart card inserted into the smart card reader, and the smart card reader may incorporate the random data into its randomness pool. A device having a source of random data may have a driver installed thereon for the smart card reader. The device may generate a random session key to encrypt traffic between the device and the smart card reader. The device may send an encrypted version of the random session key to the smart card reader. The smart card reader may decrypt the encrypted version and incorporate the random session key into its randomness pool. A smart card reader may incorporate random data received from a smart card inserted therein into its randomness pool.

Abstract: A wireless device in a discoverable mode controls its visibility by determining whether to ignore or respond to an inquiry, received from an inquiring device, based at least in part on one or more properties of the inquiring device.

Abstract: A computerized device has an open communication session with a smart card via a smart card reader. The smart card reader and the computerized device cooperate to enable another computerized device to communicate with the smart card over the open communication session. Communication between the other computerized device and the smart card is routed via the computerized device that has the open communication session.

Abstract: A system includes a wireless-enabled smart card reader able to be connected concurrently to at least two devices and a mobile device able to be connected wirelessly to the smart card reader and to control connections of the smart card reader.

Abstract: A wireless local area network includes multiple access points with overlapping coverage, and modes of different power consumption are available to the access points. It is assessed whether the traffic load of the network may be adequately supported using fewer access points in an active mode. If so, the traffic load is redistributed from certain active access points among the remaining access points in the active mode. The certain access points are switched into a mode of lower power consumption than the active mode. Similarly, it is assessed whether the traffic load of the network is adequately supported by the current number of access points in an active mode. If not, certain access points which are in a mode of lower power consumption are switched to the active mode. The traffic load is redistributed among the access points in the active mode including the certain access points.