Abstract: A wireless communication system (100) having portable communication devices (102, 104, and 106) capable of establishing direct terminal (102)-to-terminal (104) communication (108 and 110) and indirect terminal (102)-to-terminal (104) communication (112, 118 and 114, 116) through another terminal (106) without having a fixed base station. A portable communication device (106) used as a terminal is capable functioning as a router for communication (112, 118 and 114, 116) between other portable devices (102 and 104) in the system. While functioning as a router, the portable device (106) is capable establishing and maintaining a separate direct communication (302 and 304) with another portable communication device (306). A wireless communication system(600) utilizing predetermined cell- and location-specific communication parameters (808) and non-repeating propagation patterns (1200) for portables communication devices in the system for establishing communications.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for controlling access to configuration of a wireless communication device (100) are provided. Once the access control is enabled, the wireless communication device keeps track the elapsed time (212, 310) using an internal timing circuitry (116), and compares it against a predetermined duration (214, 312). When the elapsed time exceeds the predetermined duration, the access to configuration is changed (216, 314).

Abstract: The present invention describes a voltage controlled attenuator (VCA) to control an output power level of a radio frequency (RF) signal and to direct the RF signal to an appropriate path for a multi-mode and multi-band radiotelephone without using an external switch and without using multiple common VCAs. The present invention comprises a single differential amplifier and a plurality of steering blocks with each of steering blocks having a path dedicated to a specific RF band and a specific RF mode, having a pair of steering lines to control the RF signal level by having a differential voltage applied, and being capable of being disabled by having its steering lines grounded.

Abstract: In a wireless communication system (100), a method for a wireless portable communication device (104) having a first version of native software (108) to download a second version of native software (114) maintained in a communication network memory (110) by making memory space available in memory (106) of the wireless portable communication device (104) for the second version of native software (114) while maintaining communication with the communication network (102).

Abstract: This invention is a wireless communication device (100) including a first housing (220) with a housing support (250) and a second housing (120) positioned about the housing support, or a portion thereof, so that the second housing may rotate around the housing support. Also, the second housing (120) includes a circular portion (122) positioned about the housing support (250) and an extending portion (124) extending from the circular portion. When the device (100) is in a closed position (110), the circular and extending portions (122 & 124) of the second housing (120) are adjacent to the first housing (220). When the device (100) is in an opened position (210), the circular portion (122) is adjacent to the first housing (220) and the extending portion (124) is away from the first housing. In addition, the second housing (120) may have multiple position relative to the first housing (220) in which each position activates a particular function of the device (100).

Abstract: This invention is a wireless communication device (100) including a first housing (220) with a housing support (250) and a second housing (120) positioned about the housing support, or a portion thereof, so that the second housing may rotate around the housing support. Also, the second housing (120) includes a circular portion (122) positioned about the housing support (250) and an extending portion (124) extending from the circular portion. When the device (100) is in a closed position (110), the circular and extending portions (122 & 124) of the second housing (120) are adjacent to the first housing (220). When the device (100) is in an opened position (210), the circular portion (122) is adjacent to the first housing (220) and the extending portion (124) is away from the first housing. In addition, the second housing (120) may have multiple position relative to the first housing (220) in which each position activates a particular function of the device (100).

Abstract: A method for programming a wireless portable communication device (104) over the air with a wireless communication network (102). An end user may request to have his wireless portable communication device programmed or the device may be programmed to automatically request at a predetermined time interval. The communication network (104) may remotely program an individual wireless portable communication device (104), or may remotely program a group of wireless portable communication devices (112).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining position in a GPS receiver (FIG. 4) is provided according to the invention. The apparatus includes a first switch (402), the first switch (402) receiving a digital GPS data, a first memory (409), a second memory (410) in parallel with the first memory, with the first memory and the second memory selectable by the first switch (402) for filling with the digital GPS data, and a second switch (416) selectable between the first memory (409) and the second memory (410) in order to extract the digital GPS data therefrom, wherein DSP signal processing (140) extracts digital GPS data from the first memory (409) while the second memory (410) is being filled and extracts digital GPS data from the second memory (410) while the first memory is being filled, and wherein the first memory (409) and the second memory (410) allow the digital GPS data to be processed in real time.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing location information is provided. A location request is received (102) from a source. A location of a mobile device is determined (104). A plurality of location descriptions corresponding to the location are determined (105). A location description is selected (107) from among the location descriptions. The location description is provided (108) to the source of the location request.

Abstract: There is provided a radio telephone having an arcuate support (114, 1008, 1506) positioned at an upper portion (104, 1002, 1502) of the radio telephone's housing (102) for attachment to a loop-shaped object, such as a belt loop, bag strap and the like. The arcuate support (114, 1008, 1506) includes a first section (110, 1004, 1504) that is stationary relative to the housing (102), and a second section (112, 1006, 1506) that pivots away from the first section (110, 1004, 1504) to open the support (114, 1008, 1506) and returns back to the first section (110, 1004, 1504) to close the support (114, 1008, 1506). Depending upon the embodiment of the radio telephone, the arcuate support (114, 1008, 1506) may open by moving the second section (112, 1006, 1506) inward from the first section (110, 1004, 1504), outward from the first section (110, 1004, 1504) or both inward and outward relative to the first section (110, 1004, 1504).

Abstract: A wireless communication apparatus (100) and communication method provides an audio-based call connection operation. For example, one method includes receiving an incoming call message (108) and receiving an input audio answer signal (120), such as a user's voice, in response to the incoming call message (108). This method includes detecting an amplitude or characteristic of the input audio answer signal (120) and sending an answer call message (126) based on the detected amplitude level of the input audio answer signal (120). In another embodiment, the process includes storing the input audio answer signal (120) as preconnection audio information (304b) and subsequently sending the preconnection audio information (304b) as a post connection greeting. For example, a user saying the word “hello,” completes the call without any additional greeting required.

Abstract: This invention is a wireless communication device (100) that includes a housing (102) and a compartment (202) accessible from one side of the housing. The device also includes a compartment cover (212) that has a covering position over the compartment and a latching assembly (214) that is supported by the housing. The latching assembly is capable of receiving an end portion (216) of the compartment cover such that the latching assembly requires less interactive force to receive the end portion than to release the end portion. In addition, the latching assembly includes an inner component (404) positioned adjacent to the housing and an outer component (402) positioned adjacent to the inner component. The inner component moves together with the outer component to release the end portion of the compartment cover and moves separate from the outer component to receive the end portion of the compartment cover.

Abstract: At least two key switches corresponding to one or more keys, for example on the side of the radiotelephone device or on the standard keypad of the radiotelephone device, can be used to dial a phone number, therefore, eliminating the need to use the entire standard keypad. One key switch is used to increment a candidate number and a one key switch is used to decrement the candidate number. The sound file corresponding to the candidate number scrolled is output through the speaker of the radiotelephone device. One key switch is used to select the candidate number and store the number as a digit of a phone number. The digit is stored within the call register. Once the entire phone number is selected and stored, a key switch is actuated to dial the entire phone number.

Abstract: In a mobile station (MS) of a cellular radiotelephone system, a method of searching for the MS's home public land mobile network (HPLMN) when the MS is camped on a non-HPLMN. The method is performed in thirty second intervals while the MS is already in its receive ready (higher current-drawing) state. The method performs strategic measurements of the receive signal level in order to determine if it is likely that the HPLMN has become available again. If the probability is high that the HPLMN has become available, further data is gathered on the likely available channel. Once the channel is identified, the MS begins the camping procedure to register on the HPLMN.

Abstract: The present invention describes a portable radiotelephone (100) equipped with a connector having an ejection mechanism and a detect switch for an insertable module. The connector (500) is simple in design and may be constructed from a single piece of metal sheet. A module (102), which adds functionality to the portable radiotelephone, is inserted into a module slot (104) of the portable radiotelephone. When the module is fully inserted, the connector detects its presence. The connector also ejects the fully inserted module when a user desires to remove or change the module and lifts a retaining clip (502).

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) coupler apparatus (312) suited for use in a multi-band wireless communication device (200), has a termination device (316) and couplers (314 and 315). Each of the couplers (314 and 315) has through-path coupling elements (318 and 320) and coupled-path coupling elements (319 and 321). Through-path coupling elements (318 and 320) pass a RF signal that is to be transmitted respective frequency bands (TX BAND 1, TX BAND 2) within which the device (200) operates. Coupled-path coupling elements (319 and 321) couple the RF signals passed by respective through-path coupling elements (318 and 320). The coupled-path coupling elements (319 and 321) and the termination device (316) are coupled in series, thereby permitting compatibilty with a RF power detector (313) that uses a single detection diode (322).

Abstract: A low noise direct conversion transmitter architecture without a post-PA filter is described. A high power/low noise differential LO (110), controlled by a near unity divide ratio PLL (112) for re-modulation protection, is coupled a polyphase quadrature generator (120) generating amplitude-balanced and phase-shifted limited differential LO signals. The quadrature mixers (130 and 132) receive the limited differential LO signals and the filtered differential baseband signals to produce up-converted differential signals. The combiner (168) receives the up-converted differential signals and combines them to produce a differential RF transmission signal. A VCA (174) amplifies the differential RF transmission signal, and the resulting differential signal is converted to a single-ended RF transmission signal through a balun (180). A linear amplifier (184) is coupled to the single-ended RF transmission signal for amplification before radio transmission by an antenna (188).