Abstract: A method of and apparatus for obtaining information about a product or service offering having an associated receiver responsive to an information request or query. The method comprise providing a portable subscriber device linked with a communication network, presenting at least one selectable query for information to a subscriber via the subscriber device, selecting the at least one query for information, providing a desired privacy status of the subscriber utilizing the subscriber device, transmitting the query and the privacy status and, at the associated receiver, processing the privacy status and responding to the query by providing the requested information to the subscriber. A corresponding apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: According to the described embodiments, an intermediate electronic messaging service is inserted into a message delivery path connecting to an e-mail entity such as an ISP. A database is provided in the intermediate service, the database having user profiles associated with the users of the ISP or other e-mail entity. The intermediate service receives email message over the electronic message delivery path into which it has been inserted, where the e-mail messages comprise at least content and IP routing information. Within the intermediate service, at least one of the content and the IP routing information of the received e-mail message is examined, and the e-mail message is then delivered to a destination based on the examination and in accordance with a user profile in the database in the intermediate service.

Abstract: A cellular radio network based positioning system for determining the position of a mobile station (16). For each base transceiver station (1 to 5) or cell of the network, a fixed list of base transceiver stations is stored by a Mobile Positioning Centre (13). Each list identifies those base transceiver stations which enable the position of a mobile station served by the corresponding base transceiver station (6) to be optimally determined. The list is transmitted to the mobile station (16) via the serving base transceiver station (6) and the mobile station determines an observed time difference for each of the listed base transceiver stations, relative to the serving base transceiver station (6), from signals broadcast by the listed base transceiver stations. The observed time differences are transmitted from the mobile station (6) to the serving base transceiver station (6) and are used by the network to compute the position of the mobile station (16).

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for estimating the location of a wireless terminal across multiple building floors. The illustrative embodiment determines the floor where the wireless terminal is presently located by using a majority logic-based heuristic. A plurality of signal monitors measure signals from the wireless terminal and provide those signal strength measurements to a location estimation server. Alternatively, the wireless terminal measures signals that are transmitted by a plurality of transmitting signal devices and provides those signal strength measurements to a location estimation server. The location estimation server determines the floor of the wireless terminal in accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a foldable electronic apparatus capable of exhibiting satisfactory acoustic characteristics even if the body is thinned and its internal space is made small. In an electronic apparatus according to the invention, a first casing (1) and a second casing (2) can be folded together along a bearing portion (3) and the front face and the back face of one of the first and second casings ((1) or (2)) are formed with respective sound emission holes (8) and (6) that are opposed to each other. A speaker (7) is provided at a position corresponding to the sound emission holes (8) and (6), and the front face of the other body ((2) or (1)) is formed with a through hole (9) that is opposed to the sound emission hole (8) in a state that the first and second casings (1) and (2) are folded together.

Abstract: A roaming service method for a fast and secure wireless network is provided. In an embodiment of the present invention, an AP, which an STA associates with, transmits security keys needed for roaming to neighbor APs of the AP. When the STA moves to one of the neighbor APs, a reassociation is carried out between the STA and the neighbor AP using the already provided security key. In another embodiment of the present invention, an authentication server transmits security keys needed for roaming to neighbor APs to which the STA is likely to move, so that when the STA moves to one of the neighbor APs, a reassociation is carried out between the STA and the neighbor AP using the already provided security key.

Abstract: A medical practitioner creates a prescription using a handheld portable device. The device uses a plurality of interactive screens that display information such as lists of drugs. The medical practitioner enters patient information and selects from the list the desired drug to be prescribed. The device gives the practitioner access to a drug database that may be limited by the drugs prescribable by the medical practitioner. Once a prescription is created, the practitioner can select a drug dispensing location and communicate the prescription to this location. The drug database and the drug dispensing locations may be stored in a removable memory.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for managing data transmissions via an internet network (RI) between calling (Aa) and called (Ab) subscribers and also an associated smart card. A card (2a) cooperates with a terminal (1a) and has client/webserver (SWEB), CGI and proxy (27a) functions. The proxy function is used for the signaling channels (CS) and data channels (CD). The terminal (1a) and the card (2a) include specific communication protocol layers that make it possible to establish sessions for bidirectional transmission between them and/or with the internet network (RI). The smart card (2a) stores applications associated with protocols for listing (900a) and for locating subscribers (901a), as well as subscriber profiles (903a). It plays the role of a proxy in the signaling channel (CS) and/or data channel (CD).

Abstract: Estimating the speed of movement of a mobile terminal includes estimating the impulse response of the transmission channel at a given instant, and estimating the time derivative of the estimated impulse response. Estimating the speed also includes determining of a ratio of the energy of the estimated impulse response to the energy of the estimated time derivative.

Abstract: In a system of radiocommunication with mobile terminals, the invention proposes to establish a vote configuration or a simulcast configuration for intercellular handover of a communication set up between a mobile terminal (60) and a base station (11) of a current cell (10), said configuration including the current cell (10) and adjacent cells (20, 30) which are eligible for said handover, so as to enable a soft intercellular handover when the terminal (60) moves towards the adjacent cells (20, 30). The invention provides the advantage of reducing the interference level in the neighbouring cells, hence of increasing the frequency re-use rate.

Abstract: A method for controlling routing information for intellectual peripherals (IPs) in a subscriber-based ring-back-tone service. The routing information to be routed to IPs (50) corresponding to subscribers is classified on a subscriber telephone number-by-number basis, a subscriber telephone office number-by-number basis, a subscriber telephone office number group-by-group basis or a subscriber's major activity area-by-area basis according to a selection. The classified routing information is set and registered in a home location register (HLR) (10). When the HLR (10) receives a location registration request message from a terminal of an arbitrary subscriber, a corresponding routing information item to be routed to an IP (50) corresponding to the subscriber's terminal among the classified, set and registered routing information is contained within a response message to the location registration request message, and the response message is provided to a terminating mobile switching center (T MSC) (32).

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for blocking spam messages originated in a different network. An anti-spam check is made in response to an initial Send Routing Information (SRI) message received in a destination network of a message. The result of this check is sent back to the originating network along with a destination address of a switch in the destination network, and SRI spam code and Mobile Terminated (MT) Routing Address Correlation ID. If SRI spam code indicates a spam, then subsequent transmission of the MT message with the same Correlation ID is blocked in the interworking switch or SMSC.

Abstract: An electric device includes a read only memory (ROM) storing a condition setting program which sets operation conditions and the like of the electric device in accordance with data. When a user changes the operation conditions and the like of the electric device, the user access a homepage of the electric device from his or her own cellular phone, inputs necessary information and command through the cellular phone. When the electric device receives the command, the condition setting program sets the operation conditions in accordance with the received command.

Abstract: A system for granting access to agents at a communication center in response to requests for connection from network-level entities starts a fairness timer having a fairness time period when a first request is received for and agent, monitors any other requests for the same agent during the fairness time, and executes an algorithm at the end of the fairness time to select the network-level entity to which the request should be granted. In a preferred embodiment the fairness time is set to be equal to or greater than twice the difference between network round-trip latency for the longest latency and shortest latency routers requesting service from the communication center.

Abstract: This disclosure provides for a unified, centralized, preprocessing electronic messaging solution that performs value-added tasks to electronic messages on behalf of the ISP or the end user, before these messages are delivered to the destination e-mail server. The service can detect and detain damaging or unwanted messages, such as spam, viruses or other junk e-mail messages, and route electronic messages from various sources covering a variety of topics to wired and wireless destinations, apart from the intended recipient e-mail address, in various formats. In some embodiments, the electronic messaging solution provides a stored user profile, associated with a user to whom an e-mail message is addressed, that has detection parameters for processing e-mail message data. In such embodiments, a processor is also provided for processing the e-mail message data to identify suspect e-mail messages according to the detection parameters in the user profile.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a cellular telephone includes a memory and a transmitter. The memory is adapted to store a telephone number associated with an incoming telephone call, and the transmitter is adapted to transmit the telephone number to another telephone. The cellular telephone may also include a receiver and a calling unit. The receiver is adapted to receive a different telephone number from the another telephone, and the calling unit is adapted to place an outgoing telephone call to the different telephone number. In an alternative embodiment, a method of placing a telephone call from a telephone includes the steps of receiving, over a wireless link, call related information from another telephone, and placing an outgoing call based on the call related information. The other telephone may be a cellular telephone, and the call related information may include a telephone number associated with a telephone call previously received by the other telephone.

Abstract: A method, system, and functional elements for transmitting cell management information in a cellular communication network, in which each cell comprises a base station communicating using at least one frequency and is defined by a radio coverage area of its base station, wherein a communication between a mobile station and a base station is based on a time frame structure comprising a plurality of time slots, in which transmitting time slots in the time frame structures of neighboring base stations, in which time slots cell management information relating to the respective cell is to be transmitted, are shifted against each other on a time basis. The transmitting of cell management information can be based on a predetermined transmission parameter, the value of which is representative of the radio coverage area of a base station.

Abstract: Portable electronic apparatus is disclosed having a sensor for sensing the portable electronic apparatus coupled in intimate proximity to a rest. The rest may be a desk top, car instrument panel top or a special stand for the portable electronic apparatus. The portable electronic apparatus also has an inhibitor which inhibits operation of or locks the portable electronic apparatus, when the sensor senses absence of intimate proximity to the rest.

Abstract: A method and system for directly down-converting FM signals to demodulated baseband information signals that can be used to directly down-convert analog FM signals and digital FM signals to demodulated baseband information signals. In an embodiment, the method includes aliasing an FM signal at an aliasing rate substantially equal to the frequency of the FM signal or substantially equal to a sub-harmonic thereof; adjusting the aliasing rate in accordance with frequency changes on the FM signal to maintain the aliasing rate substantially equal to the frequency of the FM signal, and outputting a demodulated baseband information signal. The method optionally includes compensating for phase delays and/or other characteristics of the loop in order to maintain bandwidth and stability for the loop.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and system for reconfiguring communications call paths enables more efficient use of communications network resources and enhanced service offerings. A plurality of feature control points (FCPs) located in a plurality of different types of communications carrier networks are controlled by a single call service node (CSN). The CSN receives a report from a FCP each time the FCP receives a call control signaling message. The CSN uses the reports to map the call path, so that when a connection change request is received, the CSN can select which of the FCPs to use to effect the requested change based on predetermined criteria.