Abstract: The present invention is a method of coordinating an activity at a destination includes receiving a first signal indicative of a first location of a first party (110). The first signal is received at a destination of the first party. A second signal indicative of a second location of a second party is received at a destination (112), which is also the destination of the second party. A schedule is created (150) to coordinate the activity automatically at the destination. The schedule is based on the first and second signals indicative of the first and second locations and may include additional functions such as the estimated times of arrival of the first and second parties (120, 122). Also, the present invention is a method of notification upon arrival at a predetermined location (200) that includes receiving a first signal indicative of the location of a first party (210).

Abstract: A method (400) and a multi-mode wireless communication device (700) for identifying a preferred system. The multi-mode wireless communication device (700) receives (404) preferred roaming list information (“PRL”) including system identifier information such as System Identification, Network Identification, and Service Set Identifier, and enhanced roaming indicators (“ERI”) associated with the system identifier information, transmits (408) a request for functionality extension table information, receives (410) the functionality extension table information, identifies (414) a currently available preferred system based upon the system identifier information; and conveys (416) information indicative of the identified currently available preferred system based upon the functionality extension table information.

Abstract: The present invention is a system, method and network (110) for multicast distribution of presence information to a plurality of communication devices (102, 104, 106, 108). A contact list (122, 124, 126, 128), associated with each communication device, identifies one or more of the other communication devices. The network provides one or more multicast addresses based on the contact lists of the communication devices to the plurality of communication devices. The network also sends multicast messages identified by the one or more multicast addresses to the plurality of communication devices. Each multicast address identifies a group of multicast devices among the plurality of communication devices, and the multicast messages include presence information about the group of multicast devices.

Abstract: Layouts for keypads are provided that have an improved combination of a regular of intuitive arrangement of alphabetic symbols of a language defined by letter characters of the Roman alphabet and an efficient distribution of the symbols to minimize input ambiguities. More particularly, the symbols are for the Pinyin alphabet which includes two main symbol groups thereof for forming Pinyin syllables. The various layouts employ a columnar-based arrangement for the symbols of the initial group. The symbols for the final group are parsed down to basic characters and are distributed in a row-based arrangement.

Abstract: This invention includes a switching circuit that allows a cellular phone with an audio accessory to arbitrate between cellular telephone calls and other audio inputs. In one embodiment, a cellular telephone having a MP3 accessory uses the invention to automatically switch a single set of speakers from the stereo MP3 signal to the mono phone signal whenever a call is transmitted or received. An advantage of the invention is that the user need not switch between music and phone call when the phone rings, as the invention takes care of this automatically.

Abstract: A method (900) and a wireless device (120) for establishing a communication interface for a communication session are described herein. In a communication system, a wireless device (120) may receive presence information associated with a first party. Operated by a second party, the wireless device (120) may generate a notification to alert the second party. The notification may correspond to the presence information associated with the first party. Based on the presence information, the wireless device (120) may provide the communication interface for the communication session between the first and second parties.

Abstract: A method (900) and a mobile station (160) for autonomously determining an angle of arrival (AOA) estimation are described herein. The mobile station (160) may receive information associated with a plurality of sectors (200) from a base station (140) having a plurality of antennas. Each of the plurality of antennas may provide communication service to one of the plurality of sectors (200). The information associated with the plurality of sectors (200) may be an antenna pattern, a boresight, a downtilt, and a signal strength value associated with each of the plurality of antennas. Based on the information associated with the plurality of sectors (200), the mobile station (160) may determine an antenna gain difference, which in turn, is used to determine the angle of arrival (AOA) estimation.

Abstract: This invention provides a means of coupling a detachable member, like a cellular phone for example, to a rotational member, but only when the rotational member is coupled to a base member. The invention also provides a means of presenting the detachable member to the user. In one exemplary application, the invention is coupled to a console of an automobile. The detachable member is secured to the rotational member by a retention hood at the bottom of the rotational member. A sliding latch in the rotational member has a hook that engages a detente in the detachable member when the rotational member engages the base member. The invention thus holds the detachable member in a fixedly stable position when the rotational member couples with the base member.

Abstract: A method and device for generating meaningful compound words is provided. A user interface (120, 212) is configured to receive data input corresponding to one or more compound words. A processor (206) is configured to identify word combinations of shorter words that may be combined to form a portion or all of the one or more compound words. A display (118, 208) is configured to show the word combinations in a priority based on one or more criteria, such as distinguishing word combinations having different quantities of shorter words.

Abstract: A charging circuit is provided for coupling a power source to a plurality of loads. The circuit includes a controller that continually senses the output voltage of the power source. The controller may also decouple the power source from the loads to measure the open circuit voltage of the power source. Once the open circuit voltage is known, the controller establishes a threshold voltage that is slightly below the open circuit voltage of the power supply. The controller then begins delivering current to one of the loads by way of a current regulator. Whenever the power source voltage is below the threshold voltage, the controller reduces the current flowing through the current regulator. When the power source voltage is above the threshold voltage, the controller increases the current flowing through the current regulator. In so doing, the charging circuit simultaneously charges both loads, thereby reducing overall charge time.

Abstract: A signal processor and method therein that is arranged and constructed to recover a sequence of symbols from a received signal is discussed. The processor includes a symbol selector for selecting a symbol based on the received signal over a time period including previous symbol periods, said symbol period, and a number of additional symbol periods, where said number of additional symbol periods depends on the inter symbol interference associated with the received signal. The processor utilizes an MLSE approach that is adapted to be especially calculation efficient.

Abstract: The present invention is a user interface (120) for an ideographic character input device (100) comprising three rows (148, 150, 152) of adjacent input keys. A first row (148) includes keys that represent linear character strokes, a third row (152) includes keys that represent non-linear character strokes, and the second row (154) includes keys that represent a linear character stroke, a non-linear character stroke and a dot. The user interface (120) may also function as a numeric keypad in which the first row (148) includes keys 1 through 3, the second row (150) includes keys 4 through 6 and the third row (152) includes keys 7 through 9. The three rows (148, 150, 152) include single stroke keys corresponding to individual character strokes used to form a particular ideographic character. The user interface also includes at least one combination stroke key corresponding to a particular activation sequence of the single stroke keys used to form the ideographic character.

Abstract: An iterative method (400) and apparatus (200) for a receiver for reducing interference in a desired signal in a GSM communication system that use a finite-impulse-response filter combined with alternate quadrature component output selection for alternate linear equalization. The method includes inputting a burst of data of a received waveform including interference, training an alternate linear output filter with a midamble of known quadrature phase, providing an estimate of the desired signal by operating on the received waveform with the finite-impulse-response filter, generating log likelihood ratio estimates for a plurality of bits in the burst of data, selecting bits from the burst of data base upon a predetermined condition, and re-training the alternate linear output filter to provide a second improved estimate of the desired signal.

Abstract: An apparatus (20) and methods are provided for providing Instant Messaging (IM) in a wireless communication system. The apparatus (20) comprises an IM data storage device (22) configured to store first IM contact data associated with an IM client and an IM server (24) configured to access the IM data storage device (22) and retrieve the first IM contact data associated with the IM client. The apparatus (20) is further comprised of an IM access portal (26) in operable communication with the IM server (24) and configured to access second IM contact data associated with the IM client and transmitted to a wireless device (29) of the IM client during a prior wireless connection. The IM access portal (26) is further configured to perform a comparison of the first IM contact data and the second IM contact data and transmit difference IM contact data (54) to the wireless device (29) of the IM client that is produced with the comparison of the first IM contact data and the second IM contact data.

Abstract: Spread spectrum packet-switching radio devices (22) are operated in two or more ad-hoc networks or pico-networks (19, 20, 21) that share frequency-hopping channel and time slots that may collide. The frequency hopping sequences (54) of two or more masters (25) are exchanged using identity codes, permitting the devices to anticipate collision time slots (52). Priorities are assigned to the simultaneously operating piconets (19, 20, 21) during collision slots (52), e.g., as a function of their message queue size or latency, or other factors. Lower priority devices may abstain from transmitting during predicted collision slots (52), and/or a higher priority device may employ enhanced transmission resources during those slots, such as higher error correction levels, or various combinations of abstinence and error correction may be applied. Collisions are avoided or the higher priority piconet (19, 20, 21) is made likely to prevail in a collision.

Abstract: A method and apparatus maintains, during non-session conditions and on a per user basis, concurrent multimodal session status information of user agent programs configured for different concurrent modality communication during the same session, and re-establish a concurrent multimodal session in response to accessing the concurrent multimodal session status information.

Abstract: The present invention is a communication network (100) and method for monitoring location capabilities of mobile stations (102) in a database (120) of a communication network. Initially, the network receives an identification number from a mobile station (102). If the database (120) does not include a location capability corresponding to the identification number, then a processor (118) requests the location capability from the mobile station (102) and stores the requested location capability in the database (120). The location capability includes one or more of the following capabilities: an autonomous mode capability, an assisted mode capability and a legacy mode capability. To retrieve an entry from the database (120), the network reads the location capability corresponding to the identification number from the database (120). The network then assembles an assistance message based on the location capability of the mobile station (102) and transmits the assistance message to the mobile station (102).

Abstract: A communication system that provides communication services to a plurality of communication devices over one or more wireless channels. The communication system includes a main system component that normally serves all of the plurality of the communication devices. However, when the main system component goes out of service, a backup system component only serves some of the communication devices. As such, backup service is provided in accordance with the service priority as subscribed by the communication devices.