Abstract: A system and method for triggering a radio frequency identification, RFID, scan using image recognition includes; storing (300) image attributes of inventoried RFID-tagged items in a database along with information associated with the RFID-tagged items, capturing (302) an image of an item from an imaging device, determining (304) if there is a match between attributes of the captured image compared with the stored image attributes in the database indicating that the item is RFID-tagged, and upon a match determination (304) attempting to read (306) an RFID tag of the item.

Abstract: A method and system for secure call Dual-Tone Multi-Frequency (DTMF) signaling includes entering (202) dial string of a telephone number of a destination device, assigning (210, 212) the dial string to a predefined string having a total length that is greater than the dial string such that there will be at least one leading hexadecimal bit in the predefined string length that is not used when the entered dial string is converted to a hexadecimal, converting (214) the dial string to hexadecimal, reversing the order of the hexadecimal, and placing the reversed hexadecimal at the beginning of the predefined string, appending (216) “one” bits to the predefined string length indicating how many nibbles of the predefined string length are unused, if any, and appending the remaining intervening unused bits in the predefined string length to “zero” bits, and sending (226) the encoded string length.

Abstract: A technique for operating an ad-hoc wireless communication network includes providing 400 a plurality of price checking stations 102 having wireless communication capabilities, designating 402 one of the price checking stations 102 as a master station in the ad-hoc network, and designating the remaining stations as slave stations 100, and communicating with devices 104-110 deployed in the network using the wireless communications capabilities of the price checking stations 100, 102.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for establishing a session in a communication network supporting multimedia group calls. A first step (202) includes determining streams for a multimedia group call by the service entity. A next step (204) includes providing an indicator of the resources required for at least one stream of the group call by the service entity. A next step (206) includes paging the subscriber unit with the indicator for the at least one stream of the group call by the service entity. A next step (208) includes ascertaining the capabilities and resources of the subscriber unit. A next step (210) includes establishing a channel for only those streams of the group call for which the capabilities and resources of the subscriber unit are sufficient with respect to the indicator for those streams.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing a communication link in a communication network are provided. A continuous actuation button is configured to initiate a communication link between communication devices. The communication link is initiated when a force applied on the continuous actuation button exceeds a first force threshold. The force applied on the continuous actuation button is sampled at periodic time intervals. A release event of the continuous actuation button is detected when the force applied on the continuous actuation button reaches a second force threshold. The communication link is maintained for a predefined period of time after detecting the release event based on whether the sampled force indicates that the release event was unintentional. The predefined period of time is sufficient to allow a user to take action to avoid disconnection if undesired.

Abstract: A communication system comprises a first radio network supporting a first air interface standard and a second radio network supporting a second air interface standard. The second radio network comprises a network interface 401 which receives a handover request message from the first radio network to hand over a remote station 101 to the second network. A handover preference processor 405 receives a handover preference message including a preference indication for a radio network for the remote station. A load processor 409 determines a load indication for the second radio network and a load threshold processor 407 determines a handover load threshold for the remote station in response to the preference indication. A handover evaluation processor 403 determines whether to accept the handover in response to a comparison of the load indication and the handover load threshold.

Abstract: A system, method, and information processing system for managing a configuration of a network device. A current state associated with at least one network device (104) is determined (206). A set of commands (118) available for the current state of the network device (104) is retrieved (208). A next state associated with a current command is determined (216) for each command in the set of commands (118). A transition from the current state to the next state is created (218, 222) in response to determining a next state associated with a current command. A transition is determined to have been created for each command in the set of commands (118). An extended finite state machine (120) is created that includes at least the current state, the next state, and the transition for each of the commands in the set of commands (118).

Abstract: A method and system for dynamically triggering re-connection of a TDMA-capable radio to a TDMA-based talk group via a TDMA site. The dynamic re-connection is triggered by the group call controller when an initial request for connection to the TDMA-based talk group is made through an FDMA site by the TDMA-capable radio.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing measurement assistance in a survey of a wireless communication network includes a first step (1) of defining a scope of measurement targets to complete the survey. A next step (2) includes measuring an RF parameter at a specific spatial coordinate. A next step (3) includes analyzing the measurement to determine if the measurement is valid. A next step (5) includes storing the measurement. A next step (6) includes recommending further measurement locations for survey completeness. A next step (4) includes determining whether the survey is complete. A next step (7) includes implementing the wireless communication network in accordance with the final survey.

Abstract: Wireless switch licenses are assigned on a cluster basis rather than being limited to individual switches. A switch cluster is made up of two or more wireless switches that each having an assigned number of licenses. Each of the wireless switches is configured to establish the switch cluster with the other wireless switches, and to verify the identity of each other wireless switch in the switch cluster during operation. License restrictions are enforced based upon a total number of licenses for the switch cluster so that the sum of the numbers of licenses assigned to the wireless switches in the cluster are available for use even if one or more of the other wireless switches in the cluster become unavailable.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for efficient transitions between operating states in a communication network, includes a preliminary step of having a mobile station in a Dormant or Idle state. A next step includes requiring a data transfer, either to or from the mobile station. A next step includes transitioning the mobile station from the Dormant or Idle to an Active state. A next step includes transferring a bearer path context for the data from a Paging Control Function (PCF) to an RF Bearer Function. This can include creating a tunnel using an Inter-PCF handoff procedure. The result is a direct connection between an RF Bearer Function and an IP Router, without the PCF being in the data path.

Abstract: A system and method for fast acquisition of a communication link in a wireless broadband communication system between a mobile station and a base station includes a scheduler (100) that is informed (102) of the processing capabilities of the mobile station, preferably in an optional message field. The scheduler determines (104) a time that the mobile station can respond to a downlink message, in the same frame or in a subsequent frame, using the processing capabilities. The scheduler allocates (106) uplink bandwidth for the mobile station to respond to the downlink message at the determined time. In this way, upon sending (108) a message from the base station to the mobile station, the mobile station can immediately respond (112) at the allocated time without having to perform an explicit bandwidth request. As a result, link entry and/or handover times are reduced.

Abstract: Various embodiments are described to address the need for an apparatus and method that improves link layer handoff by addressing the packet-loss problem existing today. An intermediate buffer management layer (IBML) (201, 211) is introduced below layer 3 of an OSI-based communications interface. The IBML buffers copies of OSI layer 3 packets being transmitted via lower layers (205, 215) of the interface and manages the buffer contents using indications the IBML receives from one or more of the lower layers. When the IBML receives an indication that a link layer hard handoff is proceeding, the IBML transfers the presently buffered packets to a corresponding IBML (202, 212) in the target communications interface. This sub-layer 3 buffer transfer enables the target communications interface to reduce packet-loss associated with the hard handoff.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for adjusting a Quality of Service (QoS) for a communication device in a communication network. One step includes registering an application from a service provider with the communication device and the communication network. Another step includes receiving, by the communication device, a token from a token provider that permits a modified QoS level for the registered application. Another step includes sending the token by the communication device to the communication network. Another step includes negotiating the QoS level between the service provider and the communication device, dependent at least in part on the reception of the token. Another step includes providing, for the communication device, the modified QoS level permitted by the token for the registered application.

Abstract: A reconfigurable downconverter (10) for a multi-band positioning receiver is operable with an RF synthesizer (18) with fixed output frequency, and a fixed wideband RF input (28). The downconverter (10) includes an RF mixer (12) operable to accept a range of frequencies that encompass the GPS and Galileo frequency bands and to output a downconverted IF signal (32). A fixed frequency local oscillator signal (34) is coupled to the RF mixer (12). At least one IF processor 14 further downconverts the downconverted IF signal (32) to at least one baseband signal (22). At least one of the IF processors (14) is reconfigurable for different frequency bands.

Abstract: A apparatus and method for using an asynchronous channel for mobile handoff in a communication system includes a first step of operating a mobile unit on a forward link channel and a reverse link channel, wherein the forward and reverse link channels are different. A next step includes dropping the forward link while maintaining a connection to the reverse link channel. A next step includes acquiring a pilot signal of a new forward link channel targeted for handoff while maintaining the previous reverse link channel. A next step includes measuring a pilot signal power level of the targeted channel. A next step includes re-acquiring the previous forward link. A next step includes reporting the pilot signal power level of the targeted channel on the re-acquired forward link.

Abstract: A circuit and method for protecting a radio frequency power amplifier against peak drain voltage. A detector circuit has an input connected to a drain of a power transistor of an amplification stage of the power amplifier to detect a peak drain voltage therefrom. The detector circuit outputs a protection signal when the detected peak drain voltage exceeds a predetermined reference level. A shutdown circuit is coupled to the detector circuit and inputs the protection signal therefrom. The protection signal is used to remove a gate bias of at least one amplification stage of the power amplifier. High frequency components are used in the detector and protection circuits to immediately reduce the drain voltage from one or more of the amplification stages.

Abstract: A system and method for to establish a wireless group call from one of a plurality of communication units to others communication units includes a first step of receiving, from a requesting communication unit a request for a group call with other communication units of the group. A next step includes allocating a common downlink channel for the group call. A next step includes allocating a dedicated uplink channel for the requesting communication unit. A next step includes switching one of the communication units between the common channel mode and a dedicated channel mode depending upon performance criteria.

Abstract: A technique for transmitting data in a communication network employing Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request includes a first step 502 of grouping data to be transported into a first and second groups in accordance to a decision parameter, such as data size. A next step 504 concatenates data from the first group and encodes into a multi-user packet. A next step 502 encodes the data into a plurality of data packets. A next step 506 assigns available traffic resources to encoded packets. A next step 506 transmits the encoded packets. A next step 510 reassigns a portion of said traffic resources for which a positive acknowledgement has been determined to uninitiated packets or to assist with one or more ongoing transmissions.

Abstract: At least one Radio Frequency (RF) operating condition associated with a mobile station (102) is obtained. The RF operating condition is compared to an optimum value. When the RF operating condition is substantially different from the optimum value, the paging cycle is adjusted in order to conserve power in a battery associated with the mobile station (102).