Abstract: A communications terminal (200) including a user interface communicably coupled to a controller is configured to form a group of contacts. In one embodiment, the terminal displays only contacts having at least two attributes in common. In another embodiment, the terminal displays a group of contacts having a social relationship with at least two degrees of social separation relative to a user associated with the group. In another embodiment, a group of contacts is formed upon initiation of an application at the terminal, wherein all contacts in the group are associated with terminals running the same application and are also engaged in a common activity.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for displaying presence information for buddies who are at a particular televised event is provided herein. During operation location information for a remote device is received by a presence server. A database is then accessed to determine if the location maps to a TV venue such as a sports stadium. If a match is found between the location of the remote device and its database of venues then currently-available multimedia content is analyzed to determine if an event is being broadcast at that venue at the current time. If it is determined that an event is being broadcast at the venue, then presence data is transmitted to the users having the user of the remote device as part of their buddy list. This causes the users to display the presence information on an ambient display, a display device, an electronic program guide, a banner, or in a list.

Abstract: A multimedia device and a method embodied in the multimedia device for providing access to media content from a plurality of media content are provided. The multimedia device includes a user interface (UI) with one or more UI controls, a processor, and an output device. The UI controls receive a first set of parameter values from the user, in order to select media content. The processor creates a first list of media content based on a first probabilistic distribution over the plurality of media content. The output device provides access to the media content of the first list of media content to the user. Further, the UI may receive a second set of parameter values, and a second list of media content is then created, based on a second probabilistic distribution. The output device provides access to the media content of the second list of media content to the user.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method whereby content-consumption information is gathered from members of a group. Based on the gathered information, a shared social program guide is created and presented to the member of the group. Group members interact with the shared social program guide to recommend and eventually to select content to consume. The selected content is then rendered to the content-consumption devices of the group members. The rendering is done in a coordinated fashion. To enhance social interaction, the shared social program guide can tell a viewer which other group members are currently available for consuming content. A communication channel can be set up among the group members to coordinate their choices or to allow them to discuss the content being viewed. In some embodiments, the shared social program guide accepts commands that alter the rendering of the chosen content. The altered rendering is coordinated among the viewers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for displaying presence information for buddies who are at a particular televised event is provided herein. During operation location information for a remote device is received by a presence server. A database is then accessed to determine if the location maps to a TV venue such as a sports stadium. If a match is found between the location of the remote device and its database of venues then currently-available multimedia content is analyzed to determine if an event is being broadcast at that venue at the current time. If it is determined that an event is being broadcast at the venue, then presence data is transmitted to the users having the user of the remote device as part of their buddy list. This causes the users to display the presence information on an ambient display, a display device, an electronic program guide, a banner, or in a list.

Abstract: A communications terminal (200) including a user interface communicably coupled to a controller is configured to form a group of contacts. In one embodiment, the terminal displays only contacts having at least two attributes in common. In another embodiment, the terminal displays a group of contacts having a social relationship with at least two degrees of social separation relative to a user associated with the group. In another embodiment, a group of contacts is formed upon initiation of an application at the terminal, wherein all contacts in the group are associated with terminals running the same application and are also engaged in a common activity.

Abstract: There is provided a system for providing status information associated with viewing behavior of media broadcasting. The system comprises a client device that includes a receiver to receive presence data from a remote device and a processor to generate an ambient command based on the presence data. The presence data is associated with broadcast programs of the remote device, and the ambient command represents viewing information of the broadcast program at the remote device. The system also comprises an ambient component that provides an ambient representation of the viewing information based on the ambient command. The ambient component may be an integral part of the client device or a separate component that communicates with the client device via wired or wireless connection.

Abstract: A multimedia device and a method embodied in the multimedia device for providing access to media content from a plurality of media content are provided. The multimedia device includes a user interface (UI) with one or more UI controls, a processor, and an output device. The UI controls receive a first set of parameter values from the user, in order to select media content. The processor creates a first list of media content based on a first probabilistic distribution over the plurality of media content. The output device provides access to the media content of the first list of media content to the user. Further, the UI may receive a second set of parameter values, and a second list of media content is then created, based on a second probabilistic distribution. The output device provides access to the media content of the second list of media content to the user.

Abstract: A method of mixed mode communication in a wireless mobile communication system allows a first user to initially communicate with a second user using a first communication mode (108), such as a voice calling mode. During the use of the first communication mode, the users decide (110) to use a second communication mode to facilitate a different form of communication, such as an image transfer. The communication device then establishes a second communication link (104), and a second mode of communication is then engaged in (118). Upon finishing the second communication mode, (120), the first communication mode remains, or is reestablished (124).

Abstract: A dispatch server (206) is provided in a packet based dispatch radio network to serve as coordinator and arbitrator for dispatch group calls. Participants in a group call transmit internet protocol (IP) voice packets to the server in unicast fashion. The server receives voice packets from multiple sources (210, 216) and implements a prioritization scheme to select one source to pass on to the group via IP multicast. Various prioritization techniques are described.

Abstract: Frame collisions on communication channels connecting half-duplex units and a full-duplex unit are avoided using MAC and LLC layer protocols adapted to arbitrate channel usage. One or more flags can be included in MAC and LLC packet headers and/or acknowledgements to indicate whether subsequent packet transmissions will be attempted by sending units. Units receiving set flags can hold off transmission until receiving cleared flags from the sending units. In this manner, packet collisions can be avoided.

Abstract: A method of mixed mode communication in a wireless mobile communication system allows a first user to initially communicate with a second user using a first communication mode (108), such as a voice calling mode. During the use of the first communication mode, the users decide (110) to use a second communication mode to facilitate a different form of communication, such as an image transfer. The communication device then establishes a second communication link (104), and a second mode of communication is then engaged in (118). Upon finishing the second communication mode, (120), the first communication mode remains, or is reestablished (124).

Abstract: Frame collisions on communication channels connecting half-duplex units and a full-duplex unit are avoided using MAC and LLC layer protocols adapted to arbitrate channel usage. One or more flags can be included in MAC and LLC packet headers and/or acknowledgements to indicate whether subsequent packet transmissions will be attempted by sending units. Units receiving set flags can hold off transmission until receiving cleared flags from the sending units. In this manner, packet collisions can be avoided.

Abstract: An enhanced talkgroup scanning algorithm is provided. This algorithm provides an efficient scan function when a unit scan list contains a mixture of trunked talkgroups and conventional channels. This is accomplished by adding a new scanning algorithm for conventional priority groups, and by enhancing the trunking talk group scanning cycle. A novel scanning algorithm for conventional priority groups is used to decrease the audio holes in trunking calls when looking back at a priority conventional channel. When a unit is active on a low priority trunking call and goes over to the priority conventional channel to check for activity, several new steps are taken into consideration when the unit goes back to the trunked system/active trunked call. Based on whether there has been activity on the priority channel, the unit will immediately return to the old voice channel (unsquelched) or revert to the control channel.