Abstract: Techniques for handling arriving calls with grade of service (GoS) differentiation for multiple tiers of services are described. The multiple tiers may be for different levels of service subscriptions, different types of calls, etc. In one design, calls in multiple tiers of services may be received by a base station. The calls in the multiple tiers may be differentiated based on at least one parameter. In one design, different blocking rates may be supported for calls in different tiers, e.g., with progressively lower blocking rates being supported for calls in progressively higher tiers. In another design, different call setup queuing delays may be supported for calls in different tiers, e.g., with progressively shorter queuing delays being supported for calls in progressively higher tiers.

Abstract: The mobile electronic device is provided with: a first communication unit which performs communication; an operation unit which includes a plurality of first keys having numbers assigned respectively thereto; a display unit which, in response to the operation of at least one of the plurality of first keys, displays the number assigned to the first key that was operated; and a control unit which, if a passcode request signal is received from the first communication unit at the same time that the number selected by operating one of the first keys while a reference screen was displayed on the display unit is being displayed on the display unit, controls so that the number sequence displayed on the display unit is transmitted to the unit that transmitted the passcode request signal by the first communication unit.

Abstract: A mobile device having a printed circuit board, a wireless transceiver, an antenna having an earth plane and coupled to the wireless transceiver, a conductive earth plane extension conductively coupled to the earth plane and a neck cord adapted to support the mobile device from a neck of a user of the device, wherein the conductive earth plane extension is incorporated into the neck cord. Also, an antenna assembly having an antenna having an earth plane, the antenna being adapted to be coupled to a wireless transceiver, a conductive earth plane extension coupled to the earth plane and a neck cord adapted to support a mobile device housing the antenna from a neck of a user of the device, wherein the conductive earth plane extension is incorporated into the neck cord.

Abstract: A voice messaging system includes a transceiver, an indicator, a microphone, and a speaker. The transceiver is operable to receive a message from the Internet, and the indicator is operable to announce that the message has been received. The microphone is operable to receive a verbal request to play the message, and the speaker is operable to play the recorded message in response to receiving the verbal request.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a communication device having a controller to detect a selection of an image from a graphical user interface, identify an entry in a contact book responsive to the detected selection of the image, and retrieve one or more communication identifiers associated with the party from the entry of the contact book for initiating a communication session. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method for controlling a mobile terminal, and which includes receiving, via an input unit, a selection signal indicating a selection of a predetermined button among multiple predetermined buttons on the mobile terminal, in which the multiple predetermined buttons corresponding to different preset functions executed on the mobile terminal; capturing, via a camera included on the mobile terminal, a preview image of an object upon receiving the selection signal; recognizing, via a controller included on the mobile terminal, a character string included in the captured preview image; and performing, via the controller, a preset function using the recognized character string and that corresponds to the selection of the predetermined button.

Abstract: A greeting card system and method for bringing a personal connection. Generally, the greeting card, which can be either a printed card or an electronic card (i.e., an e-card) is configured to connect at least two phone numbers when activated. The method includes obtaining a desired card which is capable of being configured for a telephony connection, configuring the card, delivering the card, activating the card, and connecting the at least two telephone numbers. Electronics are connected to the printed card, or operations are provided in the electronic card, with at least two phone numbers being connected upon activation. Further still, a triggering device is preferably used for activating the configured electronics and the configured operations of the e-card.

Abstract: A mobile communication terminal call history displays call distinguishing icons representing the types of calls performed with counterparts. The call types include sent and received voice calls, video calls, and messages. If a user selects one call distinguishing icon displayed on a mobile communication terminal's display unit, a voice call or a video call is sent to the counterpart or a screen on which a message can be written to the counterpart is displayed, according to the call type of the selected call distinguishing icon. The user can directly select a counterpart and the call type to be sent to the counterpart by selecting one of the call distinguishing icons displayed on the display unit. A desired call distinguishing icon can be selected by entering a command on a touch screen, a keypad, or by voice command.

Abstract: A mobile device and method in one example for automatically redialing a dialed number when a call has failed is provided. The mobile device stores the dialed number when the call is initially being placed. If the call fails, the mobile device determines if a call retry service should be invoked. If so, the mobile device determines whether a call retry system has already been enabled. If the call retry system has been enabled, the mobile device will continually and automatically call the dialed number until a terminating party at the dialed number answers or a selectable time limit has expired. When the terminating party answers the call, the mobile device rings so that a subscriber of the mobile device may answer the ring and connect the call. The mobile device may also detect if the dialed number is an emergency number or non-emergency number. A recorded message recorded by the subscriber may be automatically played to the terminating party if the subscriber does not answer the ring.

Abstract: A digital photo frame, including a memory for storing a plurality of digital photos, and tags associated with the digital photos, where a tag for a digital photo corresponds to an object appearing in the digital photo, a screen for displaying the digital photos, an interface for making connection with a communicator, wherein the communicator includes a storage for storing a contact list of phone numbers for objects, and a controller, coupled with the memory and the interface, for rendering one of the plurality of digital photos on the screen, and for instructing the communicator via the interface (i) to identify the phone number of a selected object, and (ii) to dial the identified phone number, in response to user activation of a tag associated with the rendered digital photo and corresponding to the selected object.

Abstract: Automatically preparing communications for transmission by a mobile terminal device. In one example, this includes storing contact information including personal contacts and associated address and face image information. A face image is extracted from within a still image content to obtain an extracted face image. The extracted face image is linked to a given personal contact among the personal contacts by finding a match corresponding to the extracted face image among previously extracted face images found in the stored contact information. The given personal contact is correlated to address information using the contact information, and a message is automatically prepared for transmission to the given personal contact using the address information.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dial input using a voice in a mobile terminal are provided. The method includes recognizing a voice inputted from a microphone when a call is connected, identifying a numeral corresponding to the recognized voice, and transmitting the identified numeral to a phone number to which the call is connected.

Abstract: An interface protocol for the functional manipulation of complex devices such as consumer electronic devices without the necessity of the visual feedback via textual or graphic data, wherein the sensor functions change with time rather than placement, so that a user action biases a binary state switch, which is correlated to a timed audible audio data stream, the correlation indicating the desired action selected by the user.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing a communication history data according to a communication mate in a mobile terminal are provided. When a received or transmitted signal is sensed, a communication mate of the received or transmitted signal is detected. Communication history data containing the detected communication mate is generated, and the communication history data is stored in a directory corresponding to the detected communication mate.

Abstract: A communication terminal having one or more one-touch-dial buttons simplifies operations needed for registration of destination data such as phone numbers or mail addresses. A communication terminal (e.g., a cellular phone) having one or more one-touch-dial buttons includes a destination-data registration unit (e.g., a phone-directory database) that allows destination data such as phone numbers or mail addresses to be registered therein, a one-touch-dial registration unit that allows destination data to be registered therein so as to be associated with the one or more one-touch-dial buttons, and a control unit that, in response to an operation of the one or more one-touch-dial buttons, determines whether destination data has been registered in the one-touch-dial registration unit or the destination-data registration unit, and that outputs a result of the determination and a query message regarding registration of the destination data.

Abstract: Systems and methods consistent with the invention relate to automated business and service dialing. According to one exemplary embodiment, a business dialing system is disclosed. The system includes a memory configured to store a plurality of business objects containing phone numbers corresponding to a plurality of business entities. The system further includes a user input device configured to detect key presses. The system also includes a processor coupled to the user input device and the memory. The processor is configured to generate a key sequence and a number sequence based on the detected key presses. The processor is further configured to search the memory for business objects corresponding to the key sequence. The system further includes a display device configured to display the number sequence and the business objects. The user input interface is further configured to detect a selection of a business object, among the business objects, or a dial command.

Abstract: A cell phone software application that automatically informs a person's ICE contacts when their cell phone has made an emergency 911 call. Also included are systems for sending the GPS location of the cell phone to both the emergency service responders and to the ICE contacts. Personal medical information can also be transmitted automatically to the emergency service when the emergency call has been made. A system for disabling the alerting of the person's ICE contacts is also included such that the cell phone user is free to make emergency calls on behalf of other people.

Abstract: Aspects relate to authorizing mobile devices for PBX-based voice services. A mobile device calls a PBX over a voice channel, and phone number identifier information is obtained and matched to identifier information for devices that known (authorizeable) to use the PBX. If there is one incoming call that matches to a given device, and an authentication token provided over a data channel matches an authentication token associated with that device, then the device is authorized for voice services. Where there are multiple matching calls, those devices are instructed to provide authentication tokens over their voice channels. The devices can detect absence of a data channel and provide authentication tokens over the voice channels; the devices also can wait to receive a call connected response and in the absence of such provide their authentication tokens over the voice channel. Tokens can be requested and downloaded for storage at the devices.

Abstract: An intelligent abbreviated dialing feature can use a portion of a phone number as a shortcut to dialing. Any portion of a phone number can be input into a communications device such as by pressing buttons on the keypad or speaking into a microphone. A processor in the communications device or on a network accessible by the communications device can generate the phone number register from frequently dialed numbers. The processor can compare the input into the communications device against the phone number register. For each digit of the phone number that is input into the communications device, the processor can search the phone numbers and provide search results with the corresponding numbers. A phone number can be selected from the search results and dialed.

Abstract: Call initiation on a device with potential for a large number of stored telephone numbers is simplified through the use of an integrated field for entry of an ambiguous filter string. As it is not clear, a priori, whether the user is manually specifying, in the integrated field, a telephone number or providing a filter string for filtering contacts, filtering is performed based on at least one filter string. Among the contacts that are part of a filtering result list, a default contact is selected for quick access.

Abstract: Provided are a method of automatically converting a phone number while roaming using a mobile communication terminal, and a mobile communication terminal using the method. The mobile communication terminal sets an automatic conversion mode, stores at least one phone number, reads a phone number selected by a user from among the at least one stored phone number, converts the read phone number to be suitable for an international phone system of a visited country for connection to a home country if the set automatic conversion mode is ON upon when a calling command is input, and controls every module of the mobile communication terminal such that a call can be made to the converted phone number.

Abstract: A method for managing expedited communication functions for a mobile device having a processing subsystem, a memory subsystem, a display subsystem, a communication subsystem, and a keyboard subsystem includes displaying a graphical key representation of mobile device keyboard subsystem keys, arranging the graphical keys in similar disposition to the mobile device keyboard subsystem keys, and displaying visual indicia to indicate mobile device keyboard subsystem keys associated with expedited communication functions.

Abstract: A control circuit, during a call via a wireless transceiver with a first party, permits a user to establish a call via the wireless transceiver with a second party apart from the call with the first party and then, during at least a part of a call-establishment process to establish a call with the second party, displays via a touch-screen display a user-selectable option to return to the call with the first party. This user-selectable option can comprise, at least in part, a moniker for the first party. The control circuit may obtain this moniker by accessing a contacts list. If desired, this user-selectable option can be colored a color that contrasts with other displayed proximal colors then presently displayed on the touch-screen display in order to highlight the user-selectable option's availability.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a communication device including: a communication unit configured to communicate with an opponent by an electric communication network; a vibration unit configured to generate a vibration at a predetermined vibration pattern; a storage unit configured to store identification information about the opponent; a display unit configured to listing the identification information; an operation unit configured to accept an operation for moving a cursor which points at one of identification information listed by the display unit; and a control unit configured to activate the vibration unit in accordance with the one of identification information pointed at with the cursor.

Abstract: A method for displaying speed dial information is disclosed. A dialing signal is defined and stored in a memory of a mobile communication device. When the mobile communication device receives a trigger signal generated by pressing a button, it is determined whether the dialing signal is received. Contact information corresponding to the pressed button is displayed on a screen of the mobile communication device if the dialing signal is not received.

Abstract: A device and method include detecting signal strength received at a mobile cellular communication device. A dropped call is detected between the device and another device as a function of detected signal strength. The dropped call is reconnected when detected signal strength reaches a selected first threshold.

Abstract: Methods and devices for merging contact records are described. In one example aspect, a method includes: determining if an input via the touchscreen display corresponds to a pre-determined merge-contact-record gesture that is a multi-touch gesture that includes a selection of a first interface element and a second interface element, the first interface element being associated with a first contact record and the second interface element being associated with a second contact record; and if the input corresponds to the pre-determined merge-contact-record gesture, merging the first contact record with the second contact record.

Abstract: An intelligent abbreviated dialing feature can use a portion of a phone number as a shortcut to dialing. Any portion of a phone number can be input into a communications device such as by pressing buttons on the keypad or speaking into a microphone. A processor in the communications device or on a network accessible by the communications device can generate the phone number register from frequently dialed numbers. The processor can compare the input into the communications device against the phone number register. For each digit of the phone number that is input into the communications device, the processor can search the phone numbers and provide search results with the corresponding numbers. A phone number can be selected from the search results and dialed.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method and apparatus for initiating a call in a mobile telephone system, comprising the steps of: comparing a current location of a mobile terminal to at least one predetermined location; and, responsive to a location match, initiating a call from the mobile terminal to a predetermined number associated with said at least one predetermined location.

Abstract: A two way communication system is adapted to reduce latency while the communications system is operating in a low power mode. The two way communication system includes a local host having a first primary communication channel and a secondary out of band transmitter; and customer premise equipment having a primary communication channel for communicating with the first primary communication channel of the local host and a secondary low power out of band receiver that receives out of band control signals from the out of band transmitter during low power operation of the customer premise equipment.

Abstract: A method (200) for establishing a communication session between a caller device (104) and a called device (106) in a two-stage dialing protocol is provided. The method includes transmitting (204) at least one list of contacts and at least one list of index values to a communication server. Each index value of the at least one list of index values is associated with a corresponding contact from the at least one list of contacts. Further, the method includes initiating (206) a first-stage communication between a communication between the caller device and the communication server based communication server based on an input received at the caller device the caller device. Furthermore, the method includes transmitting (208) at least one set of characters of communication server based on a set of inputs received at the caller device and establishing (210) the communication session between the caller device and the called device based on the at least one set of characters.

Abstract: A system and method for integrating voice and data operations into a single mobile device capable of simultaneously performing data and voice actions. The mobile device working in a network capable of exchanging both cell phone calls and data items to the mobile device. By wearing an earphone or an ear-bud device the user is capable of dealing with voice conversations while working with data centric information related to the current caller. By providing a data-centric device with voice capabilities there is a new range of features that allow incoming data events to trigger outgoing voice events.

Abstract: A method for handling a plurality of processes running on a portable apparatus including: receiving a first user input and in response to the first user input suspending a subset of the plurality of processes. Corresponding portable apparatus, computer program product and user interface are also presented.

Abstract: Systems (100) and methods (400) for controlling functions of a Radio Transceiver (206, 208). At least one function is controlled in response to: a depression of a center of an elongated roller of a control element (102, 300); a depression of a first peripheral edge portion (FPEP) of the elongated roller (302) for a first period of time; a depression of a second peripheral edge portion (SPEP) of the elongated roller for a second period of time; a rotation of the elongated roller around a central axis thereof; a depression of the FPEP (352) for a third period of time that is longer than the first period of time; and/or a depression of a SPEP (354) for a fourth period of time that is longer than the second period of time.

Abstract: The disclosure claims a speed dialing method, a Subscriber Identity Module/User Identity Model (SIM/UIM) and a mobile terminal. A contact number field on the SIM/UIM is divided into two fields. One field is used for storing the contact numbers, and the other is the speed dialing position field configured to store the speed dialing information of contacts (101). 0XFF characters are set between the two fields for separating the two fields (102). After speed dialing of the contacts in the SIM/UIM is set, the speed dialing can be commonly used in different mobile terminals. The universality of the speed dialing functions is added. And, ID and speed dialing information recorded by the contacts on the SIM/UIM is written in mobile terminal. Then the name and the speed dialing information of the contacts is obtained only according to the contact ID when needing to be loaded.

Abstract: A handheld electronic device comprises a dedicated standby key for initiating a standby mode in the handheld electronic device. The handheld electronic device further comprises means for disabling at least a portion of a keyboard and any navigation actuator of the handheld electronic device upon entry into the standby mode. The dedicated standby key is embedded along a first edge of the handheld electronic device.

Abstract: In the method for establishing communication to a remote terminal from the mobile terminal operating in dual mode, the terminal considers a contact corresponding to the remote terminal. The contact has a string of characters including an identification field containing an identifier of the remote terminal and a description field containing at least one character corresponding to a category to which the identifier contained within the identification field belongs. The terminal analyzes the string of characters. The terminal considers the value of the description field. A rule for establishing communication corresponding to the value is determined. The value of the identification field is considered. A request to establish communication in accordance with the rule is sent to the remote terminal.

Abstract: A controller acquires first phonebook data from a portable Bluetooth phone via a Bluetooth interface portion, and stores the first phonebook data in a storage portion. A use flag is attached to the first phonebook data of the portable Bluetooth phone stored in the storage portion. When the use flag is set to “1,” the controller stores a copy of the first phonebook data of the portable Bluetooth phone in the storage portion as second phonebook data for an in-vehicle phone. When the in-vehicle phone is selected, as a used phone, the second phonebook data for the in-vehicle phone stored in the storage portion is available.

Abstract: An intelligent network interface card (INIC) or communication processing device (CPD) works with a host computer for data communication. The device provides a fast-path that avoids protocol processing for most messages, greatly accelerating data transfer and offloading time-intensive processing tasks from the host CPU. The host retains a fallback processing capability for messages that do not fit fast-path criteria, with the device providing assistance such as validation even for slow-path messages, and messages being selected for either fast-path or slow-path processing. A context for a connection is defined that allows the device to move data, free of headers, directly to or from a destination or source in the host. The context can be passed back to the host for message processing by the host. The device contains specialized hardware circuits that are much faster at their specific tasks than a general purpose CPU.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes obtaining information relating to a first telephone number, and determining whether the first telephone number corresponds to a first speed dial button on a device. The first speed dial button is highlighted if the first telephone number corresponds to the first speed dial button. If the first telephone number does not correspond to the first speed dial button, the method also includes determining whether the first telephone number is associated with a second telephone number, determining whether the second telephone number corresponds to the first speed dial button if the first telephone number is associated with the second telephone number, and highlighting the first speed dial button when it is determined that the second telephone number corresponds to the first speed dial button.

Abstract: Automatically selecting an emergency number for use by a mobile communications device enabled for Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communications, including: receiving at the mobile communications device a geographic indicator in a beacon frame transmitted from a wireless access point of a wireless local area network that is connected to an Internet Protocol network; and determining from a plurality of emergency numbers stored in a storage element of the mobile communications device a selected emergency number in dependence on the received geographic indicator.

Abstract: A mobile communication terminal having a phonebook replays a stored message when an entry of the phonebook is selected using a speed dial number and the stored message is associated with the selected phonebook entry. The message may be the spoken name of the person associated with the selected phonebook entry thereby enabling the terminal user to have an audio confirmation of the party being called. The message may be recorded by the terminal microphone or may be captured from a connected call. Alternatively the message may be a text message that is synthesized to a voice message by a text-to-speech function.

Abstract: A main phone of a cordless telephone unit has i) a cordless communicator for establishing cordless communications with a cordless handset; and ii) a voice generator for converting called-party information received from a cordless handset into voice data. On the other hand, a cordless handset has voice-data output section for reading out the voice data. Called-party information received from the cordless handset is converted into voice data at the voice generator then returned to the cordless handset. Receiving the voice data from the main phone, the cordless handset reads it out prior to placing a call. Sharing the voice generating function of the main phone with the cordless handset can thus provide the handset with a voice-generator-free structure.

Abstract: A PIM application provides a single page natural language interface for entering and managing PIM data. The natural language interface may receive a natural language entry as a text character string. The entry may be associated with a task, calendar, contact or other PIM data type. The received entries are processed (for example, parsed) to determine the PIM data type and other information. The original entry is not discarded from the natural language interface as a result of processing. After processing one or more received natural language entries, the entries remain in the natural language interface to be viewed and managed. The entry is maintained so it can be managed with other natural language entries provided in the interface.

Abstract: A portable electronic device that allows a user to dial a telephone number using a virtual rotary dial pad configuration. The device includes a physically depressible touch screen display. Speed dialing is enabled by touching and dragging a selected numeric or non-numeric symbol to a predetermined location on the touch screen display and by holding the selected symbol at the predetermined location for a predetermined duration of time. Successful dialing of a symbol results in tactile, audio or visual feedback. Touching and dragging selected symbols may be replaced by touching the selected symbol and physically depressing the touch screen. Both numeric and non-numeric symbols may be dialed.

Abstract: An in-vehicle hands-free phone system includes: a base station; a portable terminal that is wirelessly connected to the base station; and an in-vehicle device that includes: an information acquisition portion that acquires information about a portable terminal that is connected to the in-vehicle device; a storage portion that stores a number sequence whose intermediate portion includes a predetermined code; and a tone sending-out control portion that sends the number sequence stored in the storage portion to the portable terminal and causes the portable terminal to send out the number sequence in a tone. The tone sending-out control portion determines a tone sending-out behavior about a number sequence part that is subsequent to the predetermined code on the basis of the information acquired by the information acquisition portion.

Abstract: An integrated network communication device includes a data processing device, an image output device and a communication device. The data processing device is adapted to integrate various digital data and can be connected to an information network. The image output device is adapted to display image data on an image display screen. The communication device is adapted to exchange audio data with the information network, and further comprises an input unit, an audio output module, an audio input module, a traffic indication module and a bar-code identification module.

Abstract: A mobile communication terminal call history displays call distinguishing icons representing the types of calls performed with counterparts. The call types include sent and received voice calls, video calls, and messages. If a user selects one call distinguishing icon displayed on a mobile communication terminal's display unit, a voice call or a video call is sent to the counterpart or a screen on which a message can be written to the counterpart is displayed, according to the call type of the selected call distinguishing icon. The user can directly select a counterpart and the call type to be sent to the counterpart by selecting one of the call distinguishing icons displayed on the display unit. A desired call distinguishing icon can be selected by entering a command on a touch screen, a keypad, or by voice command.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, computer program product and service for directory dialer name recognition. The directory dialer has a directory of names and a first name grammar and a second name grammar representing phonetic baseforms of first names and second names respectively. The method includes: receiving voice data for a spoken name after requesting a user to speak the required name; extracting a set of phonetic baseforms for the voice data; and finding the best matches between the extracted set of phonetic baseforms voice data and any combination of the first name grammar and the second name grammar. The method can further include: checking the best match against the directory of names; if the best match does not exist in the directory, informing the user and prompting the next best match as an alternative; and if the best match does exist in the directory, forwarding the call to that best match.

Abstract: A system and method for supporting updates of database contact information to mobile communications devices includes a system having a data entry computer for compiling database contact information for a group of mobile communications devices, a service provider computer server in signal communication with the data entry computer for uploading the database contact information into the service provider computer server and for downloading the database contact information substantially simultaneously to the group of mobile communications devices, and a mobile communications device in signal communication with the service provider computer server for receiving the database contact information and for updating its own global logical database; wherein the method for supporting updates of database contact information to mobile communications devices includes the steps of compiling database contact information for a group of mobile communications devices, uploading the database contact information to a service provid