Abstract: A wireless terminal, method, and system for using the wireless terminal, for determining when the wireless terminal enters a coverage area of a target device within which communications are possible with the target device and alerting the user of the wireless terminal that such an area has been entered.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for operating a cellular communications system of a type that comprises a Base Station/Mobile Switching Center/Internetworking function (BMI) and a plurality of mobile stations. The method includes the steps of transmitting a point-to-multipoint message (e.g., a Broadcast SMS message) from the BMI to the plurality of mobile stations; and, in at least some of the plurality of mobile stations, receiving the point-to-multipoint message and transmitting an acknowledgement to the BMI using a point-to-point message. The point-to-multipoint message includes an information element having a value for specifying one of (a) that a mobile station receiving the message is prohibited from responding to the message, (b) that a mobile station receiving the message must respond to the message, and (c) that a mobile station receiving the message may optionally respond to the message.

Abstract: This invention provides for the use of an index message in a Cell Broadcast Service. An index message is considered to be a special type of Cell Broadcast message which contains general information about actual broadcast messages. The index message is transmitted in a predetermined logical S-BCCH subchannel, and contains information elements such as (a) message overviews or summaries for each cell broadcast message, (b) information concerning emergency messages, (c) information concerning the language used in different broadcast messages, (d) an alphanumeric broadcast domain operator name and a specific operator greeting, (e) information concerning changes in broadcast messages, and (f) information concerning subchannels.

Abstract: A method for operating a mobile station that includes the steps of, prior to transmitting a burst in a last frame before entering a discontinuous transmission (DTX) mode, generating a message word that indicates that the mobile station is about to enter the DTX mode; using a predetermined generator polynomial to produce an error detection word from the message word; and combining the message word and the error detection word into a DTX Trailer word. The method further includes the steps of convolutionally encoding the DTX Trailer word; interleaving the DTX Trailer word with unused bits of a slot containing a speech or a signalling word; and transmitting the interleaved DTX Trailer word to a base station. In a presently preferred embodiment the message word has a length of eight bits, the error detection word is an eight bit CRC that is appended to the message word to form the DTX Trailer word, and the DTX Trailer word is error protected using a rate ⅛ convolutional encoder.

Abstract: A comfort noise block, that include a hangover period and comfort noise parameters, is transmitted in such a manner that it is not interrupted by other messages, such as FACCH messages. This is accomplished in a mobile station by a determination of whether any FACCH messages are required to be transmitted. If such FACCH messages exist, a further determination may be made as to which transmission can be made in the shortest time (i.e., the FACCH message or messages or the comfort noise parameters message), and this transmission is made first. In any event the comfort noise parameters block is transmitted without interruption. In a further embodiment of this invention the comfort noise parameters message is transmitted by being concatenated with another message, such as a neighbor channel measurement results message, so as to reduce overhead, conserve bandwidth, and reduce power consumption.

Abstract: A method is taught to provide an improved mobile station International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) code having at least a six digit hexadecimal SNR representation, in conjunction with modifying a Check Digit calculation procedure so as to insure backwards compatibility with an existing installed base of mobile stations having a six digit BCD SNR representation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a terminal (1) for a communication network, the terminal being capable of supporting a plurality of applications (17, 18) and having means of communicating user messages. The terminal comprises means for receiving user messages having data and a header relating to one of the applications (17, 18) and means (8) for addressing the data to a respective application according to the header. In an embodiment the user messages are short messages and the data comprises characters in the short message.

Abstract: A method for operating a mobile station that includes the steps of, prior to transmitting a burst in a last frame before entering a discontinuous transmission (DTX) mode, generating a message word that indicates that the mobile station is about to enter the DTX mode; using a predetermined generator polynomial to produce an error detection word from the message word; and combining the message word and the error detection word into a DTX Trailer word. The method further includes the steps of convolutionally encoding the DTX Trailer word; interleaving the DTX Trailer word with unused bits of a slot containing a speech or a signalling word; and transmitting the interleaved DTX Trailer word to a base station. In a presently preferred embodiment the message word has a length of eight bits, the error detection word is an eight bit CRC that is appended to the message word to form the DTX Trailer word, and the DTX Trailer word is error protected using a rate ⅛ convolutional encoder.

Abstract: A comfort noise block, that include a hangover period and comfort noise parameters, is transmitted in such a manner that it is not interrupted by other messages, such as FACCH messages. This is accomplished in a mobile station by a determination of whether any FACCH messages are required to be transmitted. If such FACCH messages exist, a further determination may be made as to which transmission can be made in the shortest time (i.e., the FACCH message or messages or the comfort noise parameters message), and this transmission is made first. In any event the comfort noise parameters block is transmitted without interruption. In a further embodiment of this invention the comfort noise parameters message is transmitted by being concatenated with another message, such as a neighbor channel measurement results message, so as to reduce overhead, conserve bandwidth, and reduce power consumption.

Abstract: A method of this invention operates a mobile station, such as a cellular radiotelephone, of a type that is bidirectionally coupled to a system through an RF interface. The method includes a first step of receiving a first portion of a message word from an analog control channel (ACC); determining from the received first portion if the message word is a predetermined type of message word; and, if the message word is determined to be the predetermined type of message word, terminating the reception of the message word so as not to receive a second portion of the message word, thereby reducing the power consumption of the mobile station. In the preferred embodiment of this invention the predetermined type of message word is a control-filler message, and the second portion of the message word is comprised of a parity bits portion. The step of determining includes a step of comparing less than a total number of bits (e.g.

Abstract: This invention provides for the use of an index message in a Cell Broadcast Service. An index message is considered to be a special type of Cell Broadcast message which contains general information about actual broadcast messages. The index message is transmitted in a predetermined logical S-BCCH subchannel, and contains information elements such as (a) message overviews or summaries for each cell broadcast message, (b) information concerning emergency messages, (c) information concerning the language used in different broadcast messages, (d) an alphanumeric broadcast domain operator name and a specific operator greeting, (e) information concerning changes in broadcast messages, and (f) information concerning subchannels.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a communicator (1) having means for displaying and processing an information card containing information, and means for transmitting the information on the information card using radio communication, the transmission including an information card identifier and a destination identifier. The information on the information card is processed into characters, and a short message (103, 104) is formed of said characters, to be transmitted using radio communication, and sent to a receiver through a short message service center (SM-SC).

Abstract: A method is disclosed for operating a user terminal, such as a cellular radiotelephone, of a type that is bidirectionally coupled to a network through an RF interface. The method includes a first step of storing at least one message in a memory accessible by the mobile station. A second step transmits a Teleservice origination (e.g., a SMS origination) request from the mobile station to the network using a reverse digital control channel. The request specifies that a reverse digital traffic channel be assigned to the mobile station. A next step, executed in response to being assigned to a reverse digital traffic channel, transmits the at least one stored message to a SMS center that is coupled to the network, the at least one stored message being transmitted over the assigned reverse digital traffic channel.

Abstract: When a mobile station (10) is in a DCCH camping state it monitors its assigned page frame. After making RSSI and possibly also Bit Error Rate/Word Error Rate (BER/WER) measurements the mobile station monitors the rate of change of the RSSI. If the rate of change is small and remains so, the mobile station is assumed to be in a stationary state. After determining that it is stationary, the mobile station may give an audible alert and/or display a message to request the user to confirm that the mobile station is (and will remain) stationary. When in the stationary state the mobile station inhibits making neighbor channel measurements for DCCH reselection. The mobile station continues to monitor its assigned page frame within an assigned digital control channel and to measure its own channel RSSI and possibly also the BER/WER. If these values subsequently indicate that the mobile station is no longer stationary, the mobile station immediately resumes all neighbor channel measurements.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for operating a telecommunications system. The method includes a first step of providing at least one mobile station and a telecommunications network that are bidirectionally coupled together through a radio link. The mobile station includes a first memory, referred to as a Short Code Memory (SCM), for storing at least user-specified information. A first step of transmitting transmits at least some of the contents of the first memory from the mobile station to the telecommunications network, and a first step of receiving receives the transmitted contents of the first memory and stores at least some of the received contents in a second memory. A second step of transmitting transmits contents of the second memory from the telecommunications network to the mobile station, and a second step of receiving receives the transmitted contents of the second memory and stores at least some of the received contents in the first memory.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for operating a cellular communication network. An exemplary method includes the steps of transmitting a message from a base station (30) to a mobile station (10) located within a cell served by the base station, the message including location information for specifying a geographical location of the base station; storing the location information in the mobile station; originating a predetermined call type with the mobile station and appending the stored location information to a call origination message; and routing the call from the network to the call's destination in conjunction with the appended location information. The location information includes at least one of a latitude and a longitude at which the base station is located and an alphanumeric string that is expressive of a geographical location at which the base station is located.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for operating a cellular communications system of a type that comprises a Base Station/Mobile Switching Center/Interworking function (BMI), a message center (MC), and at least one mobile station. The method includes the steps of transmitting a point-to-point message (e.g., a SMS message), or a point-to-multipoint message (e.g., a Broadcast SMS message), from the MC via the BMI to the mobile station; buffering an acknowledgement message in the mobile station when it is determined by the mobile station that the acknowledgement message either cannot be transmitted, or cannot be transmitted in its entirety; and then subsequently automatically transmitting the buffered acknowledgement message when transmission becomes possible. Also disclosed is a method for buffering user-originated SMS messages in the mobile station until the SMS message can be transmitted to the network.

Abstract: A wireless communications system (1) has at least one base station, such as a personal base station (5), and a plurality of mobile stations (10) capable of wireless communications with the at least one personal base station. In response to input from a user of a first mobile station, a first step of a method transmits a message from the first mobile station to the personal base station, the message including a request for service and information specifying another mobile station. The message is received at the personal base station and the request for service is interpreted as being one of a plurality of types. In one embodiment the message is interpreted in accordance with a state of the mobile station when transmitting the message.

Abstract: A radiotelephone (10) includes a keypad (22) having a plurality of keys (22a, 22b) and a display device (20) for displaying information, including messages, to a user. A method includes the steps of: (a) transmitting a point-to-point short message service (SMS) message from an operator's site (36) through a network (32) to the radiotelephone; (b) receiving the SMS message from the network; (c) interpreting the received SMS message; and (d) activating a network service function that is specified in received SMS message. The method includes a preliminary step of transmitting a SMS message from the radiotelephone to the operator's site, the SMS message requesting activation of the network function.

Abstract: An apparatus for a device, particularly a telephone, using a memory card or a smart card inserted into the device including means for checking the identification data of the card and for activating the desired function of the apparatus after the verification of the data. The apparatus may include a memory unit in which the verified identification data read in from the card is recorded and used to compare subsequent identification data read in from a card. Alternatively, the apparatus may compare identification data read in from a card against verification data permanently stored in the apparatus. The apparatus also includes a timer and a comparison means which, on the basis of the output signal of the timer, compare the identification data of the card with either identification permanently stored in the apparatus or verified data previously read in from a card that is recorded in the memory unit, and thus terminate operation if the compared identification data are not identical.