Abstract: A technique for focusing a digital camera is described that includes pre-storing 200 at least one specific image object, such as a known face or landmark, activating 202 the camera to obtain an image, analyzing 204 objects in the image, comparing 206 the objects in the image against the at least one specific image object, and determining 208 if there is a match between at least one object in the image and at least one specific image object. If a match is found, the camera is focused 212, 214, 216, 218 on the matched object and the image is captured 220.

Abstract: A method for receiving a broadcast message in a wireless communication device is disclosed. The device receives a broadcast message that has associated therewith a unique message grouping identifier and determines whether the unique message grouping identifier of the received message is equal to a unique message grouping identifier of a previously received message. The device ignores the received broadcast message when the unique message grouping identifier of the received message is equal to the unique message grouping identifier of the previously received message and in some implementations enters sleep mode.

Abstract: A method (FIG. 3), corresponding call screening unit, and base station (FIG. 2), suitable for detecting cloned communication units (111 or 113), are operable to receive a first response message and a second response message (305); determine whether identification fields (ESNs, MINs) corresponding to the response messages are equivalent (307); and if so, assess whether message contents or message properties corresponding to the response messages are not correlated (311) thus indicating the response messages are from different communication units; and when not correlated, decide that one of the response messages corresponds to a cloned communication unit (313).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating a wireless communication device in an electromagnetically sensitive environment is disclosed. The method comprises selecting an operating mode of the wireless communication device. If the selected operating mode is a factory safe mode (225), the wireless communication device limits its maximum transmission power to a second value (242). The second value of the maximum transmission power is a value at which the electromagnetically sensitive devices in the electromagnetically sensitive environment are not affected.

Abstract: The described methods and devices provide for transferal of an operational identity between two mobile communication devices of an activation pool, making one device active and another inactive, but maintain the same telephone number or other operational identity. The operational identity may be, for example, a user account number, a telephone number, or other identifier that can identify the active mobile communication device in the communication network so that telephone calls or other communications may be sent to and/or received by one device of the set of devices of the activation pool. A mobile communication device may transmit a signal to a server of the communication network to make active the mobile communication device and to operate the device under the operational identity. At the same time, the server may register as inactive the previously active mobile device of the activation pool.

Abstract: A method (400) and corresponding data processing system (209) of detecting cloned or duplicated communication units based on received signals is described. The method comprise receiving a signal (403) comprising a sequence of data symbols; and determining (405) whether the signal originated from a plurality of communication units based on a parameter, such as power or quality level of a group of the data symbols.

Abstract: A wireless communication network infrastructure entity (110) transmits a message, for example, a system parameters message, on a common signaling channel for reception by wireless terminals (102) in the network. The network entity also transmits an emergency broadcast message, for example, an SMS data burst overhead message transmitted on a paging channel. An emergency broadcast message information field of the message transmitted on the common signaling channel indicates the availability of the emergency broadcast message.

Abstract: A method (203) for using electronic large format location dependent documents can include the steps of determining (200) a location of a remote user terminal (110) and accessing (210) at a server a document database having document information related to the plurality of documents. The document information includes at least one physical location associated with each document and the method further includes the step of searching (220) the document database and generating (230) a list of matching documents. The list of matching documents includes an identification of each one of the plurality of documents having an associated physical location substantially matching the determined location of the remote user terminal. The method can further retrieve (250) a selected document from the mass storage device system and display (260) the selected document on a large format display (105) coupled to the remote user terminal.

Abstract: A communication system reduces a likelihood that a call is set up with a wrong mobile station (MS) when a same Mobile Identification Number (MIN) is shared by multiple MSs by allocating duplicate physical layer parameters to each MS. In response to receiving a call, the system pages an MS. When the system receives a first page response from the first MS and a second page response from a second MS due to a shared MIN, the system allocates multiple duplicate physical layer parameters to each MS. The system then conveys a first channel assignment to the first MS and a second channel assignment to the second MS, wherein each channel assignment identifies the allocated multiple physical layer parameters. By allocating duplicate physical layer parameters to each MS, the intended MS is able to successfully set up a communication session regardless of an order of conveyance of the channel assignments.

Abstract: A burn-in board for burn-in and electrical testing of a plurality of integrated circuit devices that is disposed in one or more processing trays may include a substrate having an interface surface and a plurality of electrical contacts disposed on the interface surface for establishing, through engagement with the one or more processing trays, electrical communication between the leads of the integrated circuit devices and a tester. One or more ports may be defined in the substrate so as to extend between the interface surface and another surface of the substrate wherein the port or ports are sized and configured to enable application of a negative pressure between the substrate and the one or more processing trays upon engagement of the substrate therewith and upon application of a vacuum through the one or more ports.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a system for handling one or more soft handoff (SHO) requests from one or more mobile stations in a wireless communication system. The method comprises determining a set of parameters corresponding to each SHO request corresponding to each mobile station. The method further comprises processing each SHO request corresponding to each mobile station based on the set of parameters corresponding to each SHO request.

Abstract: A method and apparatus facilitate soft handover in a CDMA RAN (100) based on a requested set of soft handover parameters from a plurality of sets of soft handover parameters associated with a corresponding plurality of radio configurations. A mobile station (140) can request a set of soft handover parameters associated with a radio configuration. Candidate base stations (BTS 1–BTS N) can be added to an active list based on the soft handover parameters.

Abstract: Channel assignment is performed by utilizing a base station controller (BSC) or a base station depending upon a mobile unit's RF environment and/or the type of call being made. By performing call setup in this manner, mobiles that access with no soft handoff requirement (approximately 50% of mobile in IS-2000 systems) will have faster setup times.

Abstract: The need for reducing the time required for call setup in a wireless communication system (100) is addressed herein. A base station (BS 104) sends a channel assignment message to a mobile station (MS 102) and performs traffic channel initialization procedures with the MS. After completing the traffic channel initialization procedures, the BS sends a base station acknowledgment message to the MS and proceeds to transmit signaling to the MS without waiting to receive an MS acknowledgment in response to the base station acknowledgment message. Thus, the time normally taken to receive the MS acknowledgment is saved and call setup time reduced.

Abstract: Modulation codes for code division multiple access (CDMA) cellular communications systems that are mutually orthogonal may be generated as a sequence of Walsh codes. A method of assigning Walsh codes includes the steps of (404) receiving as input a status vector (200) for a Walsh code system of length 2n and a selected Walsh code length j=2n?k; (406)–(418) creating a new status vector for a selected Walsh code length of j from the status vector; (416) creating a search mask for the selected Walsh code length j; (418) creating a search sequence for the selected Walsh code length j; and (434)–(442) searching the search sequence for the next available Walsh code. The status vector is updated (500) to track the assignment and release of each Walsh code of each Walsh code length in the Walsh code system.

Abstract: A plurality of base stations (600) are programmed (702) with a uniform power-control bit pattern to be sent to a mobile unit during a plurality of power-control bit times, before the mobile unit is acquired on a reverse link. The plurality of base stations are further arranged and programmed to synchronize (704) transmissions of the uniform power-control bit pattern such that the plurality of base stations, when transmitting, send identical power-control bits during each of the plurality of power-control bit times.

Abstract: A method (FIG. 3), corresponding call screening unit, and base station (FIG. 2), suitable for detecting cloned communication units (111 or 113), are operable to receive a first response message and a second response message (305); determine whether identification fields (ESNs, MINs) corresponding to the response messages are equivalent (307); and if so, assess whether message contents or message properties corresponding to the response messages are not correlated (311) thus indicating the response messages are from different communication units; and when not correlated, decide that one of the response messages corresponds to a cloned communication unit (313).

Abstract: A plurality of base stations (600) are programmed (702) with a uniform power-control bit pattern to be sent to a mobile unit during a plurality of power-control bit times, before the mobile unit is acquired on a reverse link. The plurality of base stations are further arranged and programmed to synchronize (704) transmissions of the uniform power-control bit pattern such that the plurality of base stations, when transmitting, send identical power-control bits during each of the plurality of power-control bit times.

Abstract: An apparatus and method changes an assignment of a receiver channel element (302a-302n), such as a RAKE receiver finger based on transmit power control information (212), such as a power control bit or other suitable information, that is used as part of a closed loop transmit power control system between a transmitter and receiver. In one embodiment, a transmit power control information generator (204) produces the transmit power control information (212) on a per channel basis based on received symbol energy (210) of a received spread spectrum signal (202). A receiver channel element management module (206), analyzes the transmit power control information (212) and produces receiver channel element control information (214) to suitably change assignment of receiver channel elements, such as receiver fingers, based on the transmit power control information (212). The reassignment of fingers is rapid and provides close tracking of rapidly changing radio frequency environments.

Abstract: Modulation codes for code division multiple access (CDMA) cellular communications systems that are mutually orthogonal may be generated as a sequence of Walsh codes. A method of assigning Walsh codes includes the steps of (404) receiving as input a status vector (200) for a Walsh code system of length 2n and a selected Walsh code length j=2n-k; (406)-(418) creating a new status vector for a selected Walsh code length of j from the status vector; (416) creating a search mask for the selected Walsh code length j; (418) creating a search sequence for the selected Walsh code length j; and (434)-(442) searching the search sequence for the next available Walsh code. The status vector is updated (500) to track the assignment and release of each Walsh code of each Walsh code length in the Walsh code system.