Abstract: The present invention provides a method for managing in a mobile subscriber the traffic flow of a communication connection during a cell reselection. The method includes communicating via a communication connection with a first cell, and monitoring communication conditions, while communicating with the first cell. An approximate time is then determined, when conditions associated with the flow of communication via the communication connection with the first cell is consistent with transferring the flow of communication to a communication connection with a second cell. The mobile subscriber then establishes a communication connection with the second cell, while maintaining the communication connection with the first cell.

Abstract: A method for reducing the perceived download time of a web page. This method comprises the steps of downloading a first web page (302) that contains hyperlinks (104) to other web pages. The web page or pages corresponding to the hyperlinks contained in the first web page are automatically downloaded (310) to the memory of the device prior to any intentional selection of the link (312). This selection may be by the user or by the software configured by the user. When the user does select the at least one hyperlink, the web page corresponding to said at least one hyperlink is displayed from the memory (314) in the device as opposed to first downloading the web page to the device's memory and then displaying. This is most important as wireless devices are adapted to receive web pages as initial download time of the representative data may be substantial. Billing for the use of web pages or data is based upon the display of the web page or data, as opposed to the downloading of the data.

Abstract: A locking function or device (136) for a wireless communication unit (102) and corresponding method locks the communication device (102) to a network of a selected service provider such that the communication device (102) is limited to a lower functionality level if used with another service provider. The locking function (136) unlocks or permits the communication device (102) to be unlocked such that the communication device (102) is not limited to the lower functionality level when used with a network other than the selected network when an accrued measure of usage of the communication device (102) reaches a predetermined level. The accrued measure of usage corresponds for example to accrued revenue generated by the communication device (102).

Abstract: The electronic device is for at least one of transmitting and receiving signals, has a housing 500 and at least a GPS (Global Positioning System) antenna 510 that is operatively connected to the housing 500. A control system 708 automatically moves the GPS antenna 510 from a docked position relative to the housing 500 to a deployed position relative to the housing 500 in response to an occurrence of at least one predetermined event.

Abstract: A method of enhancing a communication capability of a communication unit (112), operating in a communication system (100) that facilitates communication to and/or from a plurality of communication units. The method includes the step of operably coupling a first communication unit (112) to one or more neighboring communication units (114, 116) such that said communication unit is able to utilize at least one operational capability of one or more of its neighboring communication units to enhance communication to and/or from said first communication unit.

Abstract: A method (300) of and secure server (200) for providing secure assistance with control of a communications unit (101, 103, 105) is disclosed. The method includes receiving (303) an instruction message via a network that corresponds to voiced instructions from the communications unit; parsing (307) the voiced instructions and sending (409) the results to assistant agents having limited access to sensitive information or only partial access to the instructions maintains security of sensitive information. The assistant agents convert (411) the portions of voiced instructions to commands; and the commands are assimilated (415) in a secure server along with other information to provide a control message corresponding to the commands. The control message is sent to the communications unit, thereby securely assisting with the control of the communications unit.

Abstract: A system of mobile communications devices including a first electronics device (310) having a first radio module (304) removably coupled thereto, a second electronics device (320), having a second radio module (302) removably coupled thereto, the radio modules supporting common radio communications devices when both of the first and second radio modules are coupled to the same device, and the first and second radio modules supporting radio communications of the first and second devices when coupled thereto.

Abstract: A portable subscriber device that is arranged and constructed to augment and facilitate interfaces to the device includes a wireless local area transceiver; an internal user interface; and a controller coupled to the internal user interface and the wireless local area transceiver. These elements are cooperatively operable for executing the method including: detecting an external device that is capable of providing an interface to the portable subscriber device; determining whether the external device is available as an interface to the portable subscriber device; and when available as an interface, establishing a wireless link between the portable subscriber device and the external device that will support the interface.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for authenticating a signature are disclosed. A disclosed method includes receiving a signature at a wireless mobile station. The received signature has a first characteristic. The first characteristic of the received signature is compared to a first characteristic of a stored signature. The stored signature is stored in a memory of the wireless mobile station. If the first characteristic of the received signature matches the first characteristic of the stored signature, a signal is transmitted. The signal verifies the authenticity of the received signature.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a disposable mobile communication device having a destructively removable radio module. The mobile communication device can include a disposable frame, a radio module coupled to the disposable frame, the radio module being irreplaceably removable from the disposable frame, an audio input module coupled to the disposable frame and the radio module, an audio output module coupled to the disposable frame and the radio module, a power supply module coupled to the disposable frame and the radio module, and an antenna coupled to the disposable frame and the radio module. The radio module can include a radio baseband processing module, an audio input, and an audio output.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving performance of a wireless communication network (11) obtains air interface resource capability data (26), from a wireless device (12) or other source, and determines if the obtained air interface resource capability data (26) of the wireless device (12) warrants a reward by the wireless communication network (11). If the air interface resource capability data (26) of the wireless device (12) warrants a reward, the system operator, through a network element (16) or other suitable device provides a reward associated with the wireless device. This may include, for example, a financial reward, such as a reduction in cost for air time, billing credit or a performance improvement such as a reduction in frame error rate that is used when the wireless device (12) is in communication with the wireless communication network (11).

Abstract: A display circuit for use in a hand held device is provided, which virtually expands the image displayed. The display circuit includes a display, a memory, a motion sensor, and a controller. The display has a predetermined size, and the memory has stored therein an image, which has an image size, that is larger than the size of the display. The motion sensor detects the movement of the hand held device and the corresponding movement of the display. The controller, which is coupled to the motion sensor, via prestored instructions, determines the current position of the hand held device and displays a portion of the image on the display, corresponding to the present position of the device. As the hand held device moves, the image being displayed on the display is panned an amount, which matches the movement of the hand held device.

Abstract: A wireless communication system (10) provides unsolicited content (40) to a wireless device (12) by using a network element (14) that contains logic circuitry that sends unsolicited content for the wireless device (12), without request by the wireless device (12) and during a non-peak period of operation of the wireless communication system (10). The network element (14) logs a billing event associated with the unsolicited content (40) in response to wireless device use indication data (42) that represents that the wireless device (12) used the unsolicited content (40) at a later time.

Abstract: A method in a wireless communication device for tracking the location of the device using cookie files. The location of the device is determined by the device itself or the infrastructure in communication with the device. The location cookie files are created by or transmitted to the device by the communication system and can be interrogated or queried immediately by the device, the infrastructure, or stored for later use by both. When a location cookie, or a cookie associated with a location has been stored on the device, it can be queried to determine when the device has moved to or close to the same location as stored in the location cookie. The location in the cookie can also be used to guide the device to a certain location of the location cookie. The location cookie can also be used to track the number of time the device enters a certain location.

Abstract: A method for enabling hardware and software features in wireless communications devices including (610) receiving key information and applying it to the communications device. The key information specifies one or more features of the wireless communications device that are to be enabled or disabled. Features of the wireless communications device specified by the key information are enabled (640) or disabled upon applying the key information to the device. In some embodiments, information from multiple keys is required to enable features of the device.

Abstract: A method (200) for context information management in a communication device includes a first step (202) of providing contextual information in the communication device that can be downloaded by a content provider. A next step (208) includes assigning access limitations to the contextual information. A next step (218) includes filtering a request for contextual information from a content provider with the access limitations from the previous step to identify contextual information that is permissible to be downloaded. A next step (220) includes sending the identified permissible contextual information to the content provider.

Abstract: A device (102) external to a wireless communication system infrastructure (104), defines (402) a dispatch group having a dispatch group identifier and including a plurality of wireless units (300). The device receives (404) a call for the dispatch group, the call including a message. The device establishes (408), through the wireless communication system infrastructure, a group connection to the plurality of wireless units in response to receiving the call; and delivers (410) the message and the dispatch group identifier to the plurality of wireless units through the group connection.

Abstract: A server (102) receives (302) from an originator a group message directed to an address associated in the server with a pre-defined plurality of recipients whose coupling to the wireless communication system at any given time is either active or inactive. The server stores (304) the group message, and transmits (316) the group message to each recipient of the pre-defined plurality of recipients whenever the recipient is actively coupled to the wireless communication system. The server indicates (318) thereafter to the originator that the recipient has received the group message.

Abstract: A method of compressed mode communications permits evaluation of one communication network while communicating in another communication network. User equipment devices (108, 110) are assigned to different portions of a frame during compressed mode.

Abstract: A method for reducing the perceived download time of a web page. This method comprises the steps of downloading a first web page (302) that contains hyperlinks (104) to other web pages. The web page or pages corresponding to the hyperlinks contained in the first web page are automatically downloaded (310) to the memory of the device prior to any intentional selection of the link (312). This selection may be by the user or by the software configured by the user. When the user does select the at least one hyperlink, the web page corresponding to said at least one hyperlink is displayed from the memory (314) in the device as opposed to first downloading the web page to the device's memory and then displaying. This is most important as wireless devices are adapted to receive web pages as initial download time of the representative data may be substantial. Billing for the use of web pages or data is based upon the display of the web page or data, as opposed to the downloading of the data.