Abstract: A wireless mobile phone is provided with one or more buttons and complementary logic to facilitate entry of encoded representations of a variable length encoding scheme of alphanumeric data. As a result, a user may use the provided facilities to engage in non-verbal communication for sensitive subject matters in the middle of a call. In one embodiment, the encoded representations are Morse codes. In another embodiment, the encoded representations are custom designed. In one embodiment, the complementary logic further facilitates echoing on a display, alphanumeric data corresponding to any entered encoded representations. Additionally, each of the code entry buttons includes one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs), and the LEDs are lit to visually echo the encoded representations of the variable length encoding scheme of letters, numbers or punctuations entered through a standard input keypad.

Abstract: A wireless mobile phone is provided with one or more buttons and complementary logic to facilitate entry of encoded representations of a variable length encoding scheme of alphanumeric data. As a result, a user may use the provided facilities to engage in non-verbal communication for sensitive subject matters in the middle of a call. In one embodiment, the encoded representations are Morse codes. In another embodiment, the encoded representations are custom designed. In one embodiment, the complementary logic further facilitates echoing on a display, alphanumeric data corresponding to any entered encoded representations. Additionally, each of the code entry buttons includes one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs), and the LEDs are lit to visually echo the encoded representations of the variable length encoding scheme of letters, numbers or punctuations entered through a standard input keypad.

Abstract: An apparatus (625) with a first plurality of input keys (635). Some of the first input keys may be associated with both a numeric value and a first set of alphabetic values and arranged in a first alphabetic keypad layout. The apparatus (625) is further provided with a second plurality of input keys (645), positioned adjacent to the first plurality of input keys (635), and being associated with at least one alphabetic value. Some of the input keys of the second plurality of input keys (645) may be arranged in a second alphabetic keypad layout different from the first alphabetic keypad layout. Further, in various embodiments, at least some input keys of the first plurality of input keys (635) have a second set of alphabetic values that is used as part of the second alphabetic keypad layout. Additionally, in various embodiments, at least some of the alphabetic values of the second keyboard layout are arranged at least partially based on a frequency of use of such alphabetic values.

Abstract: A wireless mobile phone is equipped to operate in an unauthenticated and an authenticated mode of operation, depending on whether a user has been authenticated against an authentication reference. In one embodiment, the authentication is performed against an authentication reference retrieved from an identity card, and the wireless mobile phone includes a reader to retrieve the authentication reference from the identity card. In one embodiment, the authentication reference is photograph, and the wireless mobile phone includes a camera (132) to enable a photograph to be taken and be used for authentication. In one embodiment, the photograph is a photograph of the user.

Abstract: Multiprocessor circuit cards and communication devices that employ such cards are described herein. In some instances, the multiprocessor circuit cards may be subscriber identity module (SIM) cards and the communication devices may be wireless mobile telephones that are compliant with a communication standard such as ISO/IEC, 3GPP, GSM consortium or other standards.

Abstract: A mobile communication device, such as a wireless mobile phone, is provided with a unified message function equipped to facilitate a user in interacting with a communication partner including messages of different message types supported by the mobile communication device via a unified thread.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for shielding a user's private billing data, such as credit card information, or other billing arrangements, but distributing different billing data to businesses during commerce therewith. Also disclosed is assigning the different billing data through real-time and advance distribution of the different billing data to a user, as well. Also disclosed is validating the correctness of a charge through confirmation of the charge with a financial institution, such as a bank, and by comparing itemized charges against expected charges identified by the user.

Abstract: An apparatus (625) with a first plurality of input keys (635). Some of the first input keys may be associated with both a numeric value and a first set of alphabetic values and arranged in a first alphabetic keypad layout. The apparatus (625) is further provided with a second plurality of input keys (645), positioned adjacent to the first plurality of input keys (635), and being associated with at least one alphabetic value. Some of the input keys of the second plurality of input keys (645) may be arranged in a second alphabetic keypad layout different from the first alphabetic keypad layout. Further, in various embodiments, at least some input keys of the first plurality of input keys (635) have a second set of alphabetic values that is used as part of the second alphabetic keypad layout. Additionally, in various embodiments, at least some of the alphabetic values of the second keyboard layout are arranged at least partially based on a frequency of use of such alphabetic values.

Abstract: A wireless mobile phone is equipped to operate in an unauthenticated and an authenticated mode of operation, depending on whether a user has been authenticated. In one embodiment, the wireless mobile phone includes a finger print reader to enable a user's finger print to be inputted and be used for authentication. In one embodiment, the finger print reader includes a light source and sensors, and having complementary logic to process emitted light reflected off a user's finger into an input finger print. The user is authenticated using the inputted finger print. In one embodiment, the finger print reader is integrated with a power on/off switch, which may be disposed on an end surface, a side surface or a front surface of the body of the phone.

Abstract: A wireless mobile device is equipped with a menu driver that facilitates direct navigation between main menu items or activities. In one embodiment, a user may navigate from a last sub-menu item/sub-activity state of a menu item/activity to another last sub-menu item/sub-activity state of another menu item/activity. In one embodiment, sub-menu items or sub-activities are presented as in place scroll list replacing a selected sub-menu item/sub-activity.

Abstract: A wireless mobile phone is provided with the capability to visually convey various information to users, using a number of light emitting devices (LEDs). The information may include notification of an incoming call, text messages of a call (in Morse code representations), complementary graphics for non-graphics contents, and visual representations of attributes of sound. In various embodiments, the implementations may include a visualization controller to selectively activate and deactivate the LEDs, and applicable ones of an event, text and sound visualization clients. In various embodiments, all or selected combinations of the elements may be part of the base unit of the wireless mobile phone, while the remaining elements, if any, may be part of an interchangeable face plate or a covering skin.

Abstract: The invention is directed to mobile device (FIG. 5, No 502) that obtains presence information for multiple users of other mobile devices (FIG. 5, No 508) and aggregating this information for display by at least one of the users. The aggregated presence information can include the physical (FIG. 5, No 516), virtual and ordinal (FIG. 5, Nos 512 and 514) locations for multiple users of the invention. Each user can opt in to, or out of, displaying at least a portion of the aggregated presence information in real time or over time (FIG. 5, No 504). Also statistics can be provided for analyzing presence information over time.

Abstract: A software and/or hardware facility that enables shop and play remote media using a portable media player is disclosed. Shopping may include, but is not limited to, allowing a user to identify media and acquire (via download or stream) the media to a portable media player for free or for compensation. The facility in some embodiments, allows a user to shop for media on a network site or service using a portable media player via a wired or wireless connection. The facility in some embodiments, automatically presents a user with media available from a network site or service that is related to the context of the user's use of the portable media player, such as when a user navigates or otherwise uses the portable media player. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: An apparatus (600) is provided with a first (635) and a second (645) plurality of input keys. At least some input keys of the first plurality of input keys are associated with both a numeric value and a first set of alphabetic values, and arranged in a first alphabetic keypad layout based on their respective first sets of alphabetic values. The second plurality of input keys are positioned adjacent to the first plurality of input keys. At least some input keys of the second plurality of input keys are associated with at least one alphabetic value, and arranged in a second alphabetic keypad layout. At least some of the input keys of the first plurality of input keys have a second set of alphabetic values that is used as part of the second alphabetic keypad layout and at least some of the input keys of the first and second pluralities of input keys are arranged to provide a reduced group of words generated by a predictive text input routine for an input key sequence entered by a user.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to providing advertisements for playing on a mobile device based on previously provided information regarding the mobile device user. Information regarding the user is provided to a server, which is also in communication with advertisers that supply advertisements for playing on the mobile device. The server employs the user information to determine which advertisements might be suitable for the mobile device user. The determined advertisements may be cached/recorded on the mobile device for later playback or they can be provided in real time at a scheduled time for the playing of advertisements. Also, advertisements associated/included with the currently playing content could be suppressed in favor of the determined advertisements. Additionally, the currently playing content can be recorded while advertisements are playing on the mobile device; and then the playing of the content can be subsequently resumed from the point where the advertisements started playing.

Abstract: A wireless mobile phone is equipped to operate in an unauthenticated and an authenticated mode of operation, depending on whether a user has been authenticated. In one embodiment, the wireless mobile phone includes a number of sensors to enable a user's heart beat profile to be captured and be used for authentication. In one embodiment, authentication is performed by comparing the real time captured heart beat profile against a reference heart beat profile. In one embodiment, the reference heart profile is retrieved from an identity card. The wireless mobile phone further includes a reader to retrieve the reference heart beat profile from the identity card.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for facilitating input of data to an electronic device using selectively illuminated chambered keys is disclosed. A determination is made as to which of a plurality of chambers is to be illuminated. An indicia assigned to a region on the surface of the key above a selected chamber is highlighted by illumination(s), that is (are) based at least upon the determination.

Abstract: An email program/service is enhanced to facilitate one or more email viewing related security measures. These viewing related security measures may include viewer confirmation and/or viewing limitation. The email program/service is enhanced to enable an email sender to select one or more of these viewing security measures to protect an email being prepared for transmission. The email program/service is further enhanced to facilitate viewing of an email having at least one of these viewing security measures selected, permitting viewing only if the security requirements are met.

Abstract: A mobile client device, such as a wireless mobile or a palm sized personal digital assistant, is provided with a number of sensors and companion programming instructions/circuitry to generate a heart rate reading for a user holding the device. The sensors are used to sense blood flow rate of the user. The sensors are advantageously disposed in a distributed manner, in a number of locations of the mobile client device. The programming instructions/circuitry are used to infer a holding pattern of the device, and generate the heart rate reading, using a subset of the sensed data, based at least in part on the inferred holding pattern.

Abstract: A palm-sized handheld device includes a body casing having a top end and a bottom end. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the device also includes a display screen proximately disposed near the bottom end of the device, and a plurality of input keys proximately disposed near said top end of the device above the input display screen. As a result of such a configuration, accessibility to the input keys by users+ thumbs is improved while glare from a bright light source on the display screen may be decreased.