Abstract: A method for transmitting first and second data signals can include providing a frame of bits including a first plurality of bits defining the first data signal and a second plurality of bits defining an error-correcting code having capacity to correct N bit errors in the frame. At least one bit position but less than N bit positions of the frame can be associated with a message type of the second data signal, and the associated bit positions of the frame can be inverted to encode the message type in the frame of bits. The encoded frame of bits can then be transmitted. In addition, the encoded frame of bits can be received, and error correction can be performed on the received encoded frame of bits using the error-correcting code to decode the associated bit positions to recreate the first plurality of bits defining the first data signal. Moreover, the message type can be determined based on the decoded associated bit positions to receive the second data signal including the message type.

Abstract: A wireless communications terminal includes a first transceiver that communicates with a first wireless communications system such as a cellular communications system. A second transceiver communicates with a second wireless communications system that typically has a shorter range than the first transceiver, such as a Bluetooth or FRS system. A multiple entry phonebook includes a first wireless communications system access number and a second wireless communications system access number for each of one or more entities. The wireless communications terminal includes a controller and/or other means that determines whether to use the first wireless communications system access number or the second wireless communications system access number in response to a request to call the corresponding entity.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for speech recognition incorporating location information. The method comprises receiving voice input from a user, associating a confidence measure with each of a set of stored patterns according to how closely the stored pattern matches the voice input, acquiring location information, and modifying one or more of the confidence measures based upon the location information. The apparatus comprises a speech recognition circuit that provides confidence measures, circuitry for acquiring location information, and logic for modifying the confidence measures based on the location information. Exemplary applications such as voice-dialing in a mobile communication device are described.

Abstract: In a digital communication system, a method is provided for recognizing and acting upon differences in information field characteristics when transmission errors are detected. Information having more than one field protected by a channel code is received and decoded according to the channel code. Based on the outcome of the decoding, fields of the information into which transmission errors fall are identified. These are called flawed fields. A characteristic of a flawed field is determined. The information is then processed according to the characteristic. In one embodiment of the invention, the syndrome of an incoming packet is computed. When the syndrome is all-zero, the packet is passed up a communication protocol stack conventionally. When the syndrome is not all-zero, the coset leader associated with the syndrome is found, and used to determine which fields of the packet are most likely flawed.

Abstract: A communications system for communicating a serial bit stream and parity is disclosed which enables the use of the parity bit for signaling between the transmitter and receiver by selectively inducing parity errors. The system includes a first parity generator used to generate a first parity bit on the data to be communicated. The first parity and the data are transmitted in a communications medium by a data transmitter to a data receiver. A second parity generator generates a second parity bit using the communicated data. A comparator then compares the first parity bit with the second parity bit and a parser parses the received data in response to the comparison.

Abstract: A method for locating a mobile communication device includes the steps of sensing geocoordinates that represent the telephone's approximate location, comparing the sensed geocoordinates to predefined geocoordinates that represent a home location municipal address, selecting geocoordinates responsive to the comparison, and locating the portable telephone according to the selected geocoordinates. In another embodiment, a cellular telephone includes a positioning receiver for sensing approximate geocoordinates of the cellular telephone, memory for storing home-location geocoordinates, logic for comparing the approximate geocoordinates with the home-location geocoordinates and for selecting a preferred position responsive to the outcome of the comparison; and a radio transmitter for transmitting the preferred position to a public safety answering point.

Abstract: An incoming call alert system for use with a portable communication device is disclosed as including an accessory unit physically separate from the portable communication device for providing an alerting signal, a wireless link between the portable communication device and the accessory unit, and circuitry electrically connected to operating circuitry of the portable communication device for providing a message exclusively to the accessory unit over the wireless link when an incoming call is received by the portable communication device, the message causing the accessory unit to activate the alerting signal.

Abstract: A mobile terminal includes power control logic which limits the maximum transmit power of the mobile radio telephone to conserve battery power when it is operated in a hand-held mode. The mobile radio telephone includes power control logic which sets the transmit power in response to power control codes received from a base station. The power control codes transmitted from the base station correspond to designated power levels. A signal is generated to indicate whether the mobile radio telephone is operated in a hand-held mode. When the mobile radio telephone is operated in a hand-held mode, the power control logic sets the power level at a maximum hand-held power level which is less than the maximum transmit power level.

Abstract: The present invention measures the energy consumption of battery-powered telephone devices to prevent the inadvertent deep discharge of a vehicle's battery by prolonged use of said devices when the vehicle is unattended. In a preferred embodiment, current to the devices is incrementally measured or estimated from a measurement of other relevant parameters. The incremental measurements of current are accumulated to produce a total current consumption indicative of the total energy consumption. At each update after an incremental measurement, the accumulated total is compared to a pre-established or adaptively determined. When the total energy consumption meets or exceeds the threshold, the power to the battery-powered telephone device is interrupted in order to conserve a sufficient amount of power to start the vehicle and to operate other peripheral systems.