Abstract: Methods and apparatus for facilitating the delivery of e-mail messages from a mobile communication device are disclosed. In one disclosed example, an end user of the mobile device enters e-mail message information corresponding to a new e-mail message through a user interface. Preferably, the user interface is an e-mail graphical user interface (GUI) provided by the mobile device. The mobile device identifies whether a packet data service (e.g. GPRS) for communicating e-mail messages is available to it. If the packet data service is available, the mobile device causes the e-mail message information to be sent via the packet data service. If the packet data service is unavailable, however, the mobile device causes the e-mail message information to be sent in a short message service (SMS) message via an SMS-to-Email service.

Abstract: In one illustrative example, a wireless network device of a low data rate wireless personal area network (WPAN) or the like includes a controller, memory for storing one or more application programs, and a wireless transceiver coupled to the controller and operative for communications in the wireless network. The controller is adapted to receive, through the wireless transceiver, an instruction which causes the wireless device to operate as a client in performing an OAD procedure for receiving the program from another wireless device which is operated as a server in the wireless network, and to operate the wireless device as the client in performing the OAD procedure in response to such instruction.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for use in a wireless communication device for re-establishing communications with a wireless communication network are described. In one illustrative technique, a data connection is maintained with the wireless network for communicating data with use of data connection parameters (e.g. an encryption parameter). In response to a communication failure, the wireless device attempts to establish a new data connection with the wireless network. To do this, the wireless device sends a message to the wireless network which causes the data connection parameters to be reset. Preferably, the message is a disconnect frame. After the message is sent, the wireless device sends an attach request to the wireless network. Thereafter, the wireless device communicates data over the new data connection with use of new data connection parameters.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing a seamless switching of voice calls between different wireless networks are disclosed. In one illustrative example, a mobile communication device has a processor and one or more wireless transceivers coupled to the processor. The one or more wireless transceivers include a first transceiver portion operative in accordance with a first wireless network (e.g. a GSM/GPRS cellular network) and a second transceiver portion operative in accordance with a second wireless network (e.g. an 802.11 wireless network). A voice call is maintained between the mobile device and a communication terminal through call control equipment.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for reducing power consumption of a code division multiple access (CDMA) communication device are described. The CDMA communication device operates in a communication session with a base station during which information is communicated over an information channel. At some point during the communication session, the device identifies that is has no information to transmit. In response, the device places its transmitter into a low power state and does not transmit any information that it would normally be accustomed to transmit (e.g. overhead such as idle frames) provided that forward RF link is stable. During that time, a receiver of the communication device may remain operative to receive information (e.g. transmitter power values). Provided that there is no need to transmit other necessary information, the transmitter is maintained in the low power state for a duration of time that is less than a fade time expiration of the base station.

Abstract: A mobile switches operation for communications from a wireless wide area network (WWAN) to a wireless local area network (WLAN) in an efficient manner. While providing operation for communications in the WWAN, the mobile device continually maintains visited cell site history information which is indicative of visited cell sites of the WWAN that served the mobile device over a moving time period of its operation. The mobile device continually monitors this information to identify whether it has been contained within a local geographic region over the moving time period. When the mobile device is identified to have been contained within the local geographic region, it is permitted to operate for communications with the WLAN, and may enable its WLAN radio transceiver and select the WLAN for communications.

Abstract: A mobile communication device includes a wireless transceiver, one or more processors coupled to the wireless transceiver, memory, and a communications application stored in the memory. The communications application may be a VoIP telephony application which involves communication in accordance with a session initiation protocol (SIP). The one or more processors are operative to receive a public IP address assigned to the mobile device in a public network; cause a request for a virtual private network (VPN) connection with a private network to be communicated; refrain from registering with a SIP server for the communications using the public IP address; and if the VPN connection is established: receive a private IP address assigned to the mobile device for the VPN connection and cause a request for session registration using the private IP address to be communicated to a SIP server of the private network.

Abstract: A read sensor of a magnetic head includes a sensor stack structure formed in a central region; hard bias layers formed in side regions adjacent the central region; and lead layers formed over the hard bias layers in the side regions. The hard bias layers are made of a nitrogenated cobalt-based alloy, such as nitrogentated cobalt-platinum-chromium (CoPtCr). Suitable if not exemplary coercivity and squareness properties are exhibited using the nitrogenated cobalt-based alloy. The hard bias layers are formed by performing an ion beam deposition of cobalt-based materials using a sputtering gas (e.g. xenon) and nitrogen as a reactive gas.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for controlling wireless network operations associated with a flow control process which terminates data communications to a mobile station based on an out-of-coverage condition between the mobile station and a wireless communication network. In the wireless communication network, an indication is identified which indicates whether a mobile station utilizes an always-on connection for a data service. Based on the indication indicating that the mobile station utilizes the always-on connection, the flow control process is bypassed. Otherwise, the flow control process is performed. The always-on connection may be utilized for an e-mail application for the mobile station and involve a Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) session.

Abstract: In a mobile communication device, a scanning operation is performed with use of a wireless transceiver to identify one or more available wireless communication networks in a given coverage area. Each time the scanning operation fails to result in any connection between the mobile device and a wireless network, the scanning operation is repeated after delaying for a next delay period of a plurality of scanning delay periods n=[n1, n2, . . . , upper limit]. Initially, an upper limit of the plurality of scanning delay periods n=[n1, n2, . . . , upper limit] is established at a value of M. During operation, the mobile device monitors to identify whether a predetermined battery condition, such as a low battery capacity or high battery discharge rate, exists. If the predetermined battery condition exists, the upper limit of the plurality of scanning delay periods n=[n1, n2, . . . , upper limit] is reestablished at a value of N>M.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for facilitating the determination of Global Positioning System (GPS) location information for a mobile station without disrupting communications of a voice call (e.g. a 911 emergency call). In one illustrative example, the mobile station causes GPS navigational-type data to be regularly or periodically received and stored in memory prior to the voice call. At some point in time, the mobile station receives a voice call request to initiate the voice call. In response, the mobile station derives GPS assistance data based on the GPS navigational-type data. The mobile station then causes a GPS fix to be performed using the GPS assistance data, to thereby obtain GPS measurement data. Thereafter, the mobile station causes the voice call to be established and maintained through the wireless network. The GPS measurement data is transmitted to a location server for calculating the location of the mobile station.

Abstract: One illustrative method of fabricating a read sensor of a magnetic head includes the steps of forming a plurality of read sensor layers on a wafer; etching the read sensor layers to form a read sensor structure with a trench in front of the read sensor structure; forming a highly porous material within the trench; and slicing the wafer and lapping the sliced wafer through the highly porous material until an air bearing surface (ABS) of the magnetic head is reached. Advantageously, the highly porous material in front of the read sensor structure reduces mechanical stress on the read sensor during the lapping process. This reduces the likelihood that the amplitude of the read sensor will be degraded or set in a “flipped” or reversed orientation, as well as reduces the likelihood that electrostatic discharge (ESD) damage to the read sensor will occur.

Abstract: Methods of making a read sensor with a selectively deposited lead layers are disclosed. In one illustrative example, the method includes the acts of forming a plurality of read sensor layers over a wafer; forming a monolayer photoresist to mask the plurality of read sensor layers in a central region; ion milling to remove the unmasked plurality of read sensor layers in side regions to thereby form a read sensor in the central region; depositing longitudinal bias layers in the side regions; and depositing a silicon reactant layer over the longitudinal bias layers in the side regions. After removing the monolayer photoresist, a silicon reduction process and a hydrogen reduction process are sequentially performed for the selective depositions of the lead material.

Abstract: In one illustrative example, a spin valve (SV) sensor of the self-pinned type includes a free layer; an antiparallel (AP) self-pinned layer structure; and a non-magnetic electrically conductive spacer layer in between the free layer and the AP self-pinned layer structure. The AP self-pinned layer structure includes a first AP pinned layer having a first thickness; a second AP pinned layer having a second thickness; and an antiparallel coupling (APC) layer formed between the first and the second AP pinned layers. The first thickness is slightly greater than the second thickness. Configured as such, the AP pinned layer structure provides for a net magnetic moment that is in the same direction as a magnetic field produced by the sense current flow, which reduces the likelihood of amplitude flip in the SV sensor.

Abstract: In half-duplex communications over a wireless network, a user from a private organization sends the request for half-duplex communications through a private server controlled by the private organization. The private server sets up a private account with the wireless carrier and the user communicates via the private account.

Abstract: The settling time of a wireless receiver is reduced by providing a previously utilized gain control state value to a low noise amplifier (LNA) of a receiver front end during a warm-up portion of a wake-up period of the wireless receiver which follows a sleep period. One illustrative method includes the steps of receiving a notification signal which indicates that the wireless receiver is to be placed in a sleep mode, reading a gain control state value from a gain controller based on receiving the notification signal, storing the gain control state value in memory, providing the stored gain control state value from the memory to the wireless receiver during a warm-up period of a second wake-up period following the first wake-up period, and providing a gain control state value from the gain controller to the wireless receiver based on a signal level of a currently received signal of the wireless receiver after the warm-up period.

Abstract: Home network name displaying methods and apparatus for multiple home networks are disclosed. A mobile station scans to receive a plurality of Mobile Country Code (MCC) and Mobile Network Code (MNC) pairs corresponding to a plurality of communication networks within a coverage area. The mobile station selects and registers with a communication network associated with one of the received MCC and MNC pairs for communication. After the network is selected, the received MCC and MNC pair is compared with a plurality of home network MCC and MNC pairs which are associated with a single home network display name. Based on identifying a match between the received MCC and MNC pair and any one of the home network MCC and MNC pairs, the home network display name is visually displayed in a display of the mobile station. If no match exists, an alternate name is selected for display.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for use in reducing airlink congestion and processing time associated with ciphering information communicated between a wireless communication network and a mobile station are disclosed. From the standpoint of the mobile station, one illustrative method involves the steps of receiving a ciphering mode information message from a wireless network; identifying and processing valid radio bearer downlink ciphering activation time information in the ciphering mode information message when it is part of a security mode command message; and refraining from processing any valid radio bearer downlink ciphering activation time information in the ciphering mode information message when it is part of a message that is different from the security mode command message (i.e. when it is part of a radio network subsystem relocation procedure).

Abstract: A magnetic head with improved hard magnet properties includes a sensor stack structure of current-perpendicular-to-the-planes (CPP) type formed in a central region between first and second shield layers, and a multi-layered seed layer structure formed in side regions adjacent the central region. The multi-layered structure has a first layer including nitrogenated nickel-tantalum (NiTa+N) and a second layer including chromium-molybdenum (CrMo), which are formed over an insulator in the side regions. A hard bias layer formed over the multi-layered structure is preferably a cobalt-based alloy. Methods of making the magnetic head are also described.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing restrictions on long distance calls from wireless communication devices which operate in a wireless communication network are described. The wireless devices are preferably combined voice and data communication devices. In one illustrative example, each wireless device receives and stores long distance call restriction information which is pushed from a private computer network through the wireless network. During typical operation, a wireless device determines whether call attempts from the wireless device are restricted by the long distance call restriction information. If a call attempt is restricted by the long distance call restriction information, the wireless device restricts the call attempt from the wireless device and provides for a call restriction alert indication (e.g. an alert tone or visual text). If a call attempt is not restricted by the long distance call restriction information, the wireless device allows the call attempt from the wireless device.