Abstract: A system and method for location-dependent services for mobile stations using short range wireless technology such as Bluetooth. In an advantageous embodiment, the location-based service is a suggested profile change for a mobile station. A suggested profile may be a mode of operation for the mobile station's current location (e.g., silence in a meeting room) and may be accompanied by the period of time that the profile is valid and a timer value for a forced change to the suggested profile in the absence of user interaction. In response to a prompt from a mobile station that has received a suggested profile, a user may either accept or cancel the suggested profile. Various mechanisms are disclosed for ensuring that services such as a suggested profile change is sent to mobile stations having more than a passing association with the access point's coverage area.

Abstract: The user of a mobile terminal capable of receiving low-power, short-range transmissions enters keywords indicative of messages the user wishes to peruse. When the mobile terminal receives a short-range transmission having a message, keywords associated with the message are compared with the user-entered keywords; if any match, a banner portion of the message is displayed on the mobile terminal and the mobile terminal issues a sensible alert. The user may request to view the message body associated with the banner portion. The user may request to take actions regarding the message body, such as storing the message body in the mobile terminal or calling a telephone number contained in the message body.

Abstract: The user of a mobile terminal capable of receiving broadcast transmissions, such as Digital Video Broadcast (DVB) transmissions, enters keywords indicative of messages the user wishes to peruse. When the mobile terminal receives a broadcast transmission having a message, keywords associated with the message are compared with the user-entered keywords; if any match, at least a portion of the message is displayed on the mobile terminal. The displayed portion may be a “crawl” which appears at the bottom of the display screen. The user may request to view the remaining portions, if any, of the message, or to download data linked to the message, where the downloaded data may be for viewing or for another purpose.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for dynamically allocating bandwidth among devices connected to a short-range radio communication link, wherein the link possesses a maximum allowable bandwidth (Max) for all connection. As devices request connection to the link, each device transmits a CoD device class, and a bandwidth requirement for each device, wherein a weighted value is derived therefrom. The invention proceeds according to protocol by comparing the bandwidth of a requesting device to the Max value of the link. If the bandwidth requirement<Max, then the connection is allowed. As additional devices request connection, the bandwidth requirement values are added together and are compared to the Max value. If the sum<Max, then each device is allocated it's a specific value of bandwidth, along with additional bandwidth that is derived from et weighted value. If the sum>Max, the requesting connection is denied.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of transmitting a message from a wireless radio-frequency short-range communication network (20) via a gateway (21) to a network (14, 24) external to the communication network (20). The method comprises receiving a first message (41) via a short-range radio link at the gateway from a terminal device (23) of the short-range communication network (20), the first message being addressed to an element (25, 34) external to the short-range communication network, and the first message comprising a network address of said terminal device as a transmitter's address and a first port number as a source port number, the network address of the terminal device being used inside the short-range communication network.

Abstract: A short messaging communication system for communicating short messages to a user located in an operating region of the system. Information beacons or beacons which function as store and forward devices operable in a corresponding local operating region communicate with terminal devices that are located within the local operating region. Short messages can be “private” messages wherein only specified recipients are permitted access, or “public” messages whose access is not limited to specific users. A message stored on a beacon can be retrieved by a recipient when the recipient's presence in the operating range is detected, whereupon the beacon will wirelessly transmit the message to the recipient device. For private messages, a password or other security access code may be required for input into the receiving device to decipher the received message.

Abstract: An RF network with a host node and a plurality of satellite nodes for communicating data from terminal devices connected to the nodes. Each node includes a transceiver with a unique address. On start-up of the network, the transceivers send inquiries; transceivers receiving an inquiry respond by sending their unique address; the inquiry sending transceiver stores the received addresses. All transceivers store the unique addresses of “neighboring” transceivers within their range (including those not to be part of the network). The unique transceiver addresses to be in the network are stored in the host node. The host node pages its neighbors which are to be in the network; those neighbors become initialized by learning the unique address of the host node, and report the addresses of their neighbors; each reporting node pages its neighbors; the process is repeated until all nodes intended to part of the network are initialized.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and system to extend the range of effective communication as between Bluetooth enabled devices. A Bluetooth repeater may receive Bluetooth communications from an originating Bluetooth enabled device within range and then forward the same data to an intended recipient that was outside the range of the originating Bluetooth enabled device. In one embodiment, the data is forwarded with minor modifications to the source address so that subsequent message replies will be sent to the Bluetooth repeater for forwarding to the proper message originator. Source, destination, and repeater transceiver addresses are stored in the translation database to insure proper forwarding of Bluetooth messages between out of range Bluetooth devices.

Abstract: A network including a host device and a plurality of transceiver beacons for communicating data from terminal devices interacting with the beacons, to the host. The beacons include identification codes used by the host for establishing wireless communication links either between a beacon and the host, or between two or more beacons. A routing mechanism is included in the beacons for selecting a most favorable transmission path among available paths for communicating data to the host.

Abstract: A network including a host device and a plurality of transceiver beacons for communicating data from terminal devices interacting with the beacons, to the host. The beacons include identification codes used by the host for establishing wireless communication links either between a beacon and the host, or between two or more beacons. A routing mechanism is included in the beacons for selecting a most favorable transmission path among available paths for communicating data to the host.

Abstract: The user of a mobile terminal capable of receiving broadcast transmissions, such as Digital Video Broadcast (DVB) transmissions, enters keywords indicative of messages the user wishes to peruse. When the mobile terminal receives a broadcast transmission having a message, keywords associated with the message are compared with the user-entered keywords; if any match, at least a portion of the message is displayed on the mobile terminal. The displayed portion may be a “crawl” which appears at the bottom of the display screen. The user may request to view the remaining portions, if any, of the message, or to download data linked to the message, where the downloaded data may be for viewing or for another purpose.

Abstract: The user of a mobile terminal capable of receiving low-power, short-range transmissions enters keywords indicative of messages the user wishes to peruse. When the mobile terminal receives a short-range transmission having a message, keywords associated with the message are compared with the user-entered keywords; if any match, a banner portion of the message is displayed on the mobile terminal and the mobile terminal issues a sensible alert. The user may request to view the message body associated with the banner portion. The user may request to take actions regarding the message body, such as storing the message body in the mobile terminal or calling a telephone number contained in the message body.

Abstract: A short range wireless access point enables a mobile wireless device to resume an Internet service with the same network server upon being interrupted by moving the mobile device outside the coverage area of the access point. A request forwarded by the mobile device to the access point is forwarded to the network server, the request being for service to be obtained over the Internet from the same server. The forwarding occurs during a period when the mobile device is within coverage area of the access point. A response message is sent from the server to the mobile device, the response message including a global/local parameter notifying the mobile device whether the requested service is available outside the coverage area and specifying alternative channels for continuing the service from the same server. A bookmark of the server is stored in the mobile device if the parameter indicates the service is available.

Abstract: A short messaging communication system for communicating short messages to a user located in an operating region of the system. Information beacons or beacons which function as store and forward devices operable in a corresponding local operating region communicate with terminal devices that are located within the local operating region. Short messages can be “private” messages wherein only specified recipients are permitted access, or “public” messages whose access is not limited to specific users. A message stored on a beacon can be retrieved by a recipient when the recipient's presence in the operating range is detected, whereupon the beacon will wirelessly transmit the message to the recipient device. For private messages, a password or other security access code may be required for input into the receiving device to decipher the received message.

Abstract: The user of a mobile terminal enters keywords indicative of categories of messages he wishes to peruse. When the mobile terminal receives a message, keywords associated with the message are compared with the user-entered keywords; if any match, a banner portion of the message is displayed on the mobile terminal and the mobile terminal issues a sensible alert. The user may request to view the message body associated with the banner portion. The user may request to take actions regarding the message body, such as storing the message body in the mobile terminal or calling a telephone number contained in the message body.

Abstract: A short messaging communication system for communicating short messages to a user located in an operating region of the system. Information beacons or beacons which function as store and forward devices operable in a corresponding local operating region communicate with terminal devices that are located within the local operating region. Short messages can be “private” messages wherein only specified recipients are permitted access, or “public” messages whose access is not limited to specific users. A message stored on a beacon can be retrieved by a recipient when the recipient's presence in the operating range is detected, whereupon the beacon will wirelessly transmit the message to the recipient device. For private messages, a password or other security access code may be required for input into the receiving device to decipher the received message.

Abstract: When a mobile wireless device is within the coverage area of a short range wireless access point, it sends a request for service to be obtained over the Internet from a network server. The short range wireless access point receives a response message over the Internet from the server, including a global/local parameter to notify the mobile wireless device whether the requested service is available outside the coverage area of the short range wireless access point. The access point forwards the response message to the mobile wireless device, which uses the information in the message to contact the server over the Internet. If the mobile wireless device detects that it has left the coverage area of the short range wireless access point while in contact with the server, it will determine whether the global/local parameter indicates that the service is global. If the parameter is global, then the mobile wireless device accesses a stored handover address.

Abstract: A system and method for location-dependent services for mobile stations using short range wireless technology such as Bluetooth. In an advantageous embodiment, the location-based service is a suggested profile change for a mobile station. A suggested profile may be a mode of operation for the mobile station's current location (e.g., silence in a meeting room) and may be accompanied by the period of time that the profile is valid and a timer value for a forced change to the suggested profile in the absence of user interaction. In response to a prompt from a mobile station that has received a suggested profile, a user may either accept or cancel the suggested profile. Various mechanisms are disclosed for ensuring that services such as a suggested profile change is sent to mobile stations having more than a passing association with the access point's coverage area.

Abstract: During the period when a mobile wireless device is within the coverage area of a short range wireless access point, it sends a request for service to be obtained over the Internet from a network server. The short range wireless access point receives a response message over the Internet from the server, including a global/local parameter to notify the mobile wireless device whether the requested service is available outside the coverage area of the short range wireless access point. The access point forwards the response message to the mobile wireless device, which uses the information in the message to contact the server over the Internet to download web pages or to conduct other server operations. Regions outside the coverage area of the short range wireless access point are covered by regional cellular telephone access points, such as cellular telephone base stations.

Abstract: An RF network with a host node and a plurality of satellite nodes for communicating data from terminal devices connected to the nodes. Each node includes a transceiver with a unique address. On start-up of the network, the transceivers send inquiries; transceivers receiving an inquiry respond by sending their unique address; the inquiry sending transceiver stores the received addresses. All transceivers store the unique addresses of “neighboring” transceivers within their range (including those not to be part of the network). The unique transceiver addresses to be in the network are stored in the host node. The host node pages its neighbors which are to be in the network; those neighbors become initialized by learning the unique address of the host node, and report the addresses of their neighbors; each reporting node pages its neighbors; the process is repeated until all nodes intended to part of the network are initialized.