Abstract: A method and apparatus control blanking of a display (106) in a communication device (100) such as a battery powered radiotelephone. The communication device (100) includes a clock operated blanking timer 317. When the blanking timer 317 elapses, the communication device (100) blanks the display (106) a predetermined time after a key press of a keypad (108). A switch (310) detects when the communication device (100) is in use. In response to this detection, the communication device (100) maintains supply of operating power to the display (106), overriding the blanking timer 317. When a user is holding the communication device (100) adjacent to the user's head, an earpiece sensor (312) provides an indication of this condition. In response to the indication, the display (106) is immediately blanked to conserve operating power in the battery (124).

Abstract: Apparatus and method for transferring segmented memory between memory units determines a need for memory transfer and searches a memory unit segment by segment until a valid data record is found. This valid data record is conveyed to another memory unit via the asynchronous mode. If a valid data records is not found within a predetermined amount of time, a message identifying the memory segment last searched is conveyed. If no remaining valid data records are found, a message with no information is conveyed. Priority is given to asynchronous messages.