Abstract: Access to a wireless data network to nodes located in a defined operational area is limited by transmitting a network signal within the defined operational area while transmitting a wave that can cause destructive interference with the network signal into a prohibited area adjacent to the defined operational area. The wave that can cause destructive interference is produced by phase and/or amplitude modulating the network signal. The modulation of the network signal includes sweeping the phase and/or amplitude.

Abstract: A security document, comprises a printed document and one or more memory circuits adapted to be read wirelessly attached to or incorporated within the printed document, wherein data in the memory circuit is protected from access by an unauthorised reader, and wherein the memory circuit is physically isolated so as to inhibit physical tampering or to indicate when physical tampering has occurred. Methods of publishing and of reading such security documents are described.

Abstract: The invention relates to a data transfer system and a method of data transfer. The invention aims to provide a high bandwidth channel between a mobile device, such as a mobile telephone and a network storing data, such as the Internet. A standard public land mobile network (PLMN) is used to notify the mobile device that there is data on the network awaiting download. The mobile device user then moves to within range of a high bandwidth short range (HBSR) base station to download the data more quickly than is possible over the PLMN.

Abstract: A method is disclosed of transferring data to a first communications device having a first transceiver for communication at a first data rate over a long range, and a second transceiver for communication at a second, higher data rate over a short range. The method includes forming a co-ordinated short-range wireless network using the first communications device and at least one second communications device of a similar type. Communication is then initiated between the first communications device and said at least one second communications device to establish whether that second communications device has data required by the first communications device. The first communications device then communicates, upon the first communications device receiving confirmation that a second communications device has the required data, with a service provider using its first transceiver to request permission for the transfer of the required data from said communications device to the first communications device.

Abstract: A memory tag has a memory. Associated with the memory tag there is a readable structure. The readable structure can be read to generate an identifier. However, the readable structure cannot be provided so as to encode a predetermined identifier.

Abstract: A co-operative network includes a first device that advertises resources it has available for sharing and a second device that requests at least part of the available resources of the first device. The devices co-operatively execute a task using the shared resources of the first device and the resources of the second device.

Abstract: Location information about a communicating entity (41), in particular a mobile entity, is derived by identifying intermediate nodes (42) along the communication path being used by the entity, and then looking up, in a database (44), the geographic significance of at least one of these nodes when considered in a direction along the communication path towards the entity of interest. Preferably, account is taken of any identified downstream/upstream nodes to refine the geographic significance of a node. The geographic significance information can be compiled by taking location fixes at a plurality of endpoint locations and associating the location data thus obtained with the intermediate nodes traversed when communication is effected from the corresponding endpoint locations.

Abstract: The presence of persons is detected, for example, by detecting short-range communication devices carried by the detected persons. The interests of the detected persons are then determined by reference to specific interests transmitted by the user devices and/or by reference to customer profile data. The discovered interests of the current detected persons are then used to select content for display on an electronic display during a next display slot. The display is spaced from the zone in which the persons are detected, being located at a downstream location through which most of the detected persons will pass.

Abstract: A mobile device is used to effect task-related communication with a remote entity via the communications infrastructure of a wireless hotspot through which the mobile device is moving. The device includes a first estimation arrangement for estimating the time remaining before the mobile device leaves the coverage zone of the hotspot having regard to the predicted movement of the device. The device further includes a second estimation arrangement for estimating the time needed to complete the task-related communication. These two time estimates are compared with each other by a monitor unit of the device to determine whether there is sufficient time to complete the task-related communication.

Abstract: A representational object contains a visual representation of a character and a memory tag comprising a digital memory adapted to be read from when inductively powered. The digital memory contains digital content relating to the character represented visually on the representational object. At least a part of the digital content relates to function of the character in a game carried out by a gaming application and comprises executable code for execution in connection with operation of the gaming application.

Abstract: A mobile telephone (10), an advertiser, broadcasts an advertisement over a wireless short range piconet link to another mobile telephone (12), a consumer. The advertisement is broadcast with a predetermined set of classification tags and the consumer phone (12) has a filter set to accept only certain adverts. When an advertisement of interest is received by the consumer phone (12) it requests further details automatically via the piconet link and the advertiser phone (10) provides then automatically via the piconet link. When the consumer wishes to reply to the advertisement they contact the advertiser phone (10), or an advertiser device, via a long range cellular link (16).

Abstract: A method of transferring high rate data between a first communications device (32) and a second communications device (1) is disclosed. The second communications device (1) has a first transceiver (4) for communication with the first communications device (32) at a first, low data rate over a long range, and a second transceiver (2) for communicating at a second, high data rate over a short range. The method comprises the steps of forming a coordinated short-range network (piconet) using the second communications device (1) and a plurality of other similar communications devices (11, 21), transferring a portion of said data to or from the first communications device (32) from or to each of said second communications device and said other communications devices using their first transceivers (2, 12, 22), and transferring said data portions between said other communications devices and the second communications device using their second transceivers (4, 14, 24).

Abstract: A mobile telephone (10), an advertiser, broadcasts an advertisement over a wireless short range piconet link to another mobile telephone (12), a consumer. The advertisement is broadcast with a predetermined set of classification tags and the consumer phone (12) has a filter set to accept only certain advertisements. When an advertisement of interest is received by the consumer phone (12) it assesses whether to obtain further details via the piconet link and the advertiser phone (10) provides then automatically via the piconet link. When the consumer wishes to reply to the advertisement they contact the advertiser phone (10), or an advertiser device, via a long range cellular link (16).

Abstract: Businesses may offer their services not only through internet websites but also by short-range wireless portals (51A,B,C) intended to catch passers-by; indeed, this latter means of business promotion may be used instead of an internet site. A method is provided of gathering information from such portals (51A,B,C) for use in a database service system 40. More particularly, a mobile device (20) provided with a short-range wireless receiver (21) is moved within range of such a portal and collects information about the services available from the local entity operating the portal. The device (20) then uses a cellular radio network (10) to send this information, together with location data about the portal, to a remote database service system (40) holding similar information from other portals. The user of the mobile device can be credited with a reward by the database service system for collecting such information.

Abstract: Disclosed is a RF receiver that includes baseband circuitry for performing Minimum Mean-Square Error (MMSE) optimization for substantially simultaneously suppressing inter-symbol interference (ISI) and co-channel interference (CCI) on a signal stream that comprises real and imaginary signal components. In a preferred embodiment the receiver includes a single receive antenna, and operates as a single/multi antenna interference cancellation (SAIC) receiver. The baseband circuitry operates to determine a set of In-Phase and Quadrature Phase (I-Q) MMSE vector weights that are used to perform the ISI suppression and the CCI suppression. A method for operating the receiver is also disclosed.

Abstract: Access from a first processing apparatus to an application running on a second processing apparatus is established by sending, on behalf of the first processing apparatus, a log-on request to the second processing apparatus via a first network. There is a response to the log-on request with a demand for authentication data being sent in reply to the demand. At least one of the demand and the authentication data are sent via a second network that differs from the first network.

Abstract: A method and device is provided for obscuring the location of a mobile entity to a specified accuracy level. Available location data that has a known accuracy greater than the specified accuracy has its accuracy decreased (85) by combining with the components of the available location data, additional components randomized over a range set by the difference between the known accuracy of the available location data and the specified accuracy level.

Abstract: A mobile device is used to effect task-related communication with a remote entity via the communications infrastructure of a wireless hotspot through which the mobile device is moving. The device includes a first estimation arrangement for estimating the time remaining before the mobile device leaves the coverage zone of the hotspot having regard to the predicted movement of the device. The device further includes a second estimation arrangement for estimating the time needed to complete the task-related communication. These two time estimates are compared with each other by a monitor unit of the device to determine whether there is sufficient time to complete the task-related communication.

Abstract: A mobile user in a foreign wireless network registers via a foreign server, which communicates with a home server in the user's home network to exchange data pertaining to use of a service by the user. The data are in a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) MESSAGE in accordance with the SIP. In one embodiment, the foreign network holds data indicating use of a service or services in the foreign network by the mobile user, and sends to the home server a SIP MESSAGE including data for the home network to use for billing. In another embodiment, the home network holds account details relating to the use of the foreign network by the mobile user. In response to a SIP MESSAGE from the foreign server identifying the mobile user and the service or services requested by the mobile user, the home server sends to the foreign server a SIP MESSAGE including data indicating permitted use of the foreign network by the mobile user.

Abstract: A mobile entity (20) provides accuracy limit data (Q) that indicates a desired accuracy of location data (L) about the mobile entity. This data (Q) is passed, either directly or indirectly from the mobile entity (20), to a location handling system (80) which provides location data (L) about the corresponding mobile entity limited to the desired accuracy. In one embodiment, the location handling system is a location server. In another embodiment the location handling system is a decryption entity (80) for decrypting encrypted location data.