Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a system and method for initiating a multiplayer gaming session by establishing a transaction at a communication device with a data object server, completing the transaction by obtaining one or more rights for multiplayer gaming from the data object server, and receiving one or more data objects at the communication device and at one or more additional communication devices for initiating a multiplayer gaming session. The one or more data objects further comprises the one or more rights and/or one or more references to obtain the one or more rights for multiplayer gaming, and the transaction further comprises identifying a predetermined number of participants. The system and method further comprise accepting, declining, postponing, or rescheduling the gaming session at the one or more data objects.

Abstract: In a mobile communication device, a method for compensating for a frequency adjustment in an oscillator shared between a communication circuit and a positioning signal receiver is provided. In one embodiment, the method begins to receive and store a positioning signal at a first time point. When, at a second time point, the operating frequency of the shared oscillator is adjusted, the frequency adjustment is recorded. After the positioning signal is completely received and stored, the processing of the positioning signal takes into consideration the frequency adjustment. In that embodiment, the processing hypothesizes a frequency shift in the received positioning signal. According to another aspect of the present invention, a method for determining the operating frequency of an oscillator detects a beginning time point of a reference signal received by the mobile communication device and enables a counter to count in step with a clock signal derived from the oscillator.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method of bundling full or partial decoding and/or post-processing mechanisms together with media content in the form of an electronic file. The combined file may be transmitted to another device that is able to execute the decoding and/or post-processing such that the receiving device can render the media content in an appropriate manner (e.g., playback of audio, display a picture, etc.) with sufficient fidelity. Aspects of the present invention extend the use of metadata associated with the a multimedia content to incorporate a specification for how the multimedia file should be decoded or partially decoded from a compressed state (e.g., MP3, JPEG, WAV, etc.) and post-processed into a state than can be rendered by a device. In one embodiment, the specification is in the form of a script comprising an ordered list of functions or primitives that are executed by the receiving device to transform the associated multimedia file into the desired content to be rendered.

Abstract: A portable communication device is equipped to create and manage a wishlist database by wirelessly receiving product information from a tag associated with a product and storing the received product information in a wishlist database associated with the portable communication device. The wishlist database may be shared with third parties for evaluation of items or products stored within the wishlist database or the wishlist database may be transmitted to third parties to indicate items desired by the user of the portable communication device.

Abstract: A portable electronic device that includes an antenna and at least one of a transmitter or a receiver connected to the antenna for transferring information between the portable electronic device and a corresponding device via the antenna. The corresponding device includes a visual indicator indicative of a location of an antenna of the corresponding device. The portable electronic device further includes an imaging device for obtaining an image of the visual indicator, an image analyzer for determining a location of the portable electronic device antenna relative to that of the corresponding device based on the image, a direction analyzer for determining a movement direction of the portable electronic device that would reduce an alignment offset between the antennas, and a directional indicator for indicating the movement direction to a user of the portable electronic device.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method that utilizes near field communications (NFC) for establishing and/or controlling the routing of communications in a fixed mobile convergence environment. Electronic equipment is provided with an NFC adapter and a storage element (e.g., memory, disk drive, etc.) that has user's identity specific information (e.g., user's identity information, social security number, user's identity identification number, virtual target network (VPN) settings, etc.) stored in a suitable electronic format for transmission to a NFC reader that is coupled to a fixed local network (e.g., corporate enterprise network). The fixed local network authenticates the user and fixed mobile convergence is realized between a wide area communication network and the fixed local area network.

Abstract: A portable communication device is equipped to make reservations via a localized communication link with a resource. The portable communication device retrieves reservation availability information from a resource communicator and displays the reservation availability information for viewing by a user. User input indicative of a reservation request is received and the reservation request is transmitted to the resource communicator via a localized communication link. The portable communication device provides a convenient method to establish a reservation.

Abstract: A method of conducting a search includes tagging a user selected segment of audio content that includes search criteria to define an audio clip.

Abstract: A portable communication device is equipped to search for content stored on a target electronic device. The portable communication device transfers user-defined content search query to an electronic device via a near-field communications (NFC) module. The portable communication device receives search results from the electronic device via the NFC module and indicates to the user that search results have been received from the electronic device. The portable communication device facilitates content searching and data transfer between two devices.

Abstract: A portable device authorizes a payment transaction from an account associated with the portable device. The portable device comprises a communication system, such as a near field communication (NFC) system, for communicating with a transaction system of a merchant or other receiving entity, a user interface, a memory storing account information for each of a plurality of accounts, and a transaction application. The transaction application applies at least one predetermined selection rule to the plurality of accounts to determine a selected subset of the plurality of accounts. A display of the user interface displays, under control of the transaction application, a plurality of transaction option indicators. Each transaction option indicator, which may be text or graphic, represents a one of the accounts within the selected subset of accounts. The transaction application prompts user selection of a selected one of the transaction option indicators.

Abstract: A method of operating electronic equipment, wherein said electronic equipment utilizes a wireless signal to communicate, includes determining if the electronic equipment is operated within a moving vehicle based on a characteristic of the wireless signal and inhibiting operation of the electronic equipment if the electronic equipment is in a moving vehicle.

Abstract: A distributed content search system comprises a synchronization component, a distributed content search database, and a distributed content search component. The synchronization component receives, from each of a plurality of participating devices: i) identification of at least one content item being obtainable from the participating device; and ii) metadata associated with the subject of the at least one content item. The distributed content search database associates: i) identification of the participating device from which the content item is obtainable; and ii) the metadata associated with the subject of the content item. The distributed content search component receives a search query input from a querying device and returns search results. The search results comprise, for each of a plurality of instances of relevant distributed content, a link to the participating device form which the relevant distributed content is obtainable.

Abstract: A method of processing a sound signal in preparation for conducting an audio-based search on a portion of the sound signal where the portion of the sound signal has an initial starting point and an initial ending point includes identifying speech features that have a relationship to the portion of the sound signal. The initial starting point and/or the initial ending point may be adjusted. In one adjustment, at least one of the initial starting point or the initial ending point are adjusted so that the portion of the sound signal includes a speech feature that at least partially occurs before the initial starting point or at least partially occurs after the initial ending point.

Abstract: A method of controlling a mobile radio terminal includes assigning a non-call related function to a call answer button of a headset assembly that is operatively interfaced with the mobile radio terminal. In response to a detection of a depression of the button when no incoming call is received and when no call is in progress, the function is performed.

Abstract: A mobile terminal generates an estimate of GPS time. The mobile terminal includes a cellular receiver, a GPS receiver, and a processor. The cellular receiver is configured to receive communication signals from cells in a wireless communication system. The GPS receiver receives GPS signals and determines a GPS time reference therefrom. The processor estimates a cell time reference from the received communication signals, and generates cell-to-GPS timing data that represents a time offset between the cell time reference and the GPS time reference. The processor then estimates GPS time based on a time indicator portion of a received communication signal and the cell-to-GPS timing data. The estimated GPS time may be used by the GPS receiver to acquire GPS signals.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for transmitting multimedia content stored on a network to a mobile telephone and/or other rendering device (e.g., a mobile telephone accessory). In one embodiment, a mobile telephone and a mobile telephone accessory (e.g., a headset) are communicatively coupled to a network. The mobile telephone requests information from a device associated with the network. The mobile telephone selects information from a content server to be rendered and a rendering device. The mobile telephone configures the rendering device to receive the information from the network through a network adapter. The mobile telephone maintains control of the session and the rendering device through a second interface (e.g., Bluetooth).

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for using the mobile telephone as an audio gateway. In one embodiment, a mobile telephone requests: access to a wireless network, wherein the wireless network includes at least one remote server that contains multimedia content. The mobile telephone assigns a subnet internet protocol (IP) address to a rendering device. After authenticating the user, the user selects at least one service and/or device associated with the wireless network, The streaming audio is then routed to the rendering device based on the assigned subnet IP address.

Abstract: In a mobile communication device, a method for compensating for a frequency adjustment in an oscillator shared between a communication circuit and a positioning signal receiver is provided. In one embodiment, a method for determining the operating frequency of an oscillator detects a beginning time point of a reference signal received by the mobile communication device and enables a counter to count in step with a clock signal derived from the oscillator. When an ending time point of the reference signal is received by the mobile communication device, the count is stopped, and the frequency of the oscillator is determined based on the count in the counter and an expected time that elapsed between the beginning time point and the ending time point.

Abstract: The invention discloses various methods whereby mobile communications devices, connected to a communications network can share data by acting as both clients and servers. Specifically contemplated is the sharing of GPS assistance data. Also disclosed is the formation and use of hierarchical groups of mobile communications devices for the purpose of information sharing.

Abstract: In a satellite navigation system receiver co-located with a wireless communication system mobile terminal, periodic interference from the mobile terminal preventing bit-edge synchronization with one or more satellite signals is overcome by using Time Difference Of Arrival (TDOA) values associated with the satellite signals. Either a satellite signal free of periodic interference is chosen by inspection of the TDOA values, or the TDOA values are ranked and synchronization is attempted iteratively. Once a satellite signal is synchronized, the TDOA values are used to calculate synchronization for the remaining signals. The TDOA values may be transmitted to the mobile terminal by a satellite navigation signal information server connected to the wireless communication system, either individually or in broadcast mode to one or more cells. Alternatively, the mobile terminal may acquire the TDOA values from memory or from another data interface.