Abstract: A device and method for placing the device in a locked state having an associated set of permitted tasks so as to permit the device owner to share the device with others but maintain security over aspects of the device. A task change request is evaluated to determine whether the requested task is permitted and, if so, the requested task is allowed; if not, then an authorization process is invoked to prompt the user to input authorization data. Upon verification of the authorization data, the device may be unlocked and the requested change implemented. The permitted tasks may designate specific applications, specific operations or functions within applications or at the operating system level, one or more currently open windows, and other levels of granularity.

Abstract: A wireless communication device (and its related method of operation) includes, if invoked, password protected access to data stored therewithin and/or to normal device operations and further includes duress password checking logic that automatically causes a duress message to be sent if a duress password has been entered. The duress message is preferably sent without maintaining any user accessible indication of such sending. It is also preferred that the password checking logic automatically cause an end-of-duress message to be sent if a normal password is entered after a duress password has been entered. A plurality of different duress passwords may be entered into a duress password portion of data memory in the device.

Abstract: A mobile computing device, including a main body, a processor and associated memory housed within the main body, a display screen housed within the main body and responsive to signals from the processor, an optical sensor fixed to the main body for capturing successive images and providing image signals representative of the captured images to the processor, and a navigation module associated with the processor for determining, based on the image signals, a relative movement between the main body and a reference surface and moving a pointer on the display screen based on the determined relative movement.

Abstract: A method, mobile electronic device and system for synchronizing hand-off of a voice media session between a WAN/cellular network and a WLAN network. When a hand-off occurs, the connection with both networks is temporarily maintained and the voice data on both connections compared to determine differences in the delays experienced over both connections. The timing of one or both voice streams is adjusted to synchronize the voice streams, and then the handoff is completed.

Abstract: A system is provided for providing content to a plurality of mobile electronic devices, where at least some of the mobile electronic devices have wireless communications capabilities. The system includes a first network for use with a second network. The first network comprises a wireless network system for communicating with at least some of the mobile electronic devices through wireless sessions; a wired to wireless gateway module connected to the wireless network system for interfacing between a wireless portion of the first network and a wired portion of the first network; a session control module interfacing with the wired to wireless gateway module for managing the wireless sessions and wired sessions; and a relay server module interfacing with the session control module and the wired to wireless gateway module, the relay server module for providing relayed content to the mobile electronic devices. The second network comprises an external server for providing content to the mobile electronic devices.

Abstract: A flexible cable for carrying RF signals and method of manufacturing same. The cable includes an elongate base substrate including a dielectric layer with an upper metal layer deposited on one side and a lower metal layer deposited on its other side. It further includes two parallel spaced-apart series of vias formed along the length of the base substrate, each via electrically interconnecting the upper metal layer and the lower metal layer, whereby a rectangular cross-sectional waveguide is provided between the upper metal layer, the lower metal layer and the two series of vias.

Abstract: A call forwarding user interface for a mobile communication device provides selective access to pre-stored identifying data (e.g., an address book) for a user to define one or more call forwarding destinations for predetermined call forwarding conditions. Call forwarding profiles of such identifying data may also be defined and stored for subsequent selective actuation. Such interface features facilitate user-defined call forwarding functions with reduced requirements for memorization and/or reference to written or printed records.

Abstract: An electrical assembly having controlled impedance signal traces and a portable electronic device comprising an electrical assembly having controlled impedance signal traces are provided. In accordance with one embodiment, there is provided an electrical assembly, comprising: a chassis for mounting electronic components, the chassis being made from a conductive material and forming a first ground plane; a first dielectric layer overlaying the chassis; a first signal trace overlaying the first dielectric layer; and a second dielectric layer overlaying the first signal trace.

Abstract: A backlit key assembly having a reduced thickness for an electronic device, and an electronic device having such a backlit key assembly are provided. The key assembly utilizes a local sink (recess) in a backing plate of the key assembly to lower the light source (e.g. LED) and flexible printed circuit board relative to the backing plate. The key assembly described herein provides a suitable leading space for the light source while permitting the overall thickness of the key assembly to be reduced compared with conventional backlit key designs.

Abstract: A method and portable electronic device for hands-free operation in a motor vehicle are described. In accordance with one embodiment, there is provided a method comprising: detecting when a portable electronic device is within a threshold distance of a motor vehicle; and inhibiting the portable electronic device from transmitting communications when the portable electronic device is within the threshold distance of a motor vehicle.

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: A method and system for establishing a service relationship between a mobile communication device and a mobile data server for connecting to a wireless network are disclosed. In accordance with one embodiment, an Internet browser receives a request to establish a service relationship between a mobile communication device and a mobile data server. A device identifier and device capability data is received from the mobile communication device. Service data for the mobile communication device is received from a mobile data administration server in accordance with the device identifier and device capability data, which is then stored in a memory of the mobile communication device.

Abstract: A method of facilitating the input of information in a handheld electronic device having a plurality of input elements such as, without limitation, keys. The method includes receiving a signal indicating that a particular one of the input elements is being touched in a first manner, providing a feedback signal, such as a sound or graphic, that identifies the particular input element after the signal is received, and performing a function associated with the particular input element when it is being touched in a second manner. Also, a handheld electronic device that includes an input apparatus having a plurality of input elements, a processor, and a memory in electronic communication with the processor. The memory stores one or more routines executable by the processor for implementing the method described above.

Abstract: To validate a received certificate issuance notification message, a device may verify that the certificate issuance notification message conforms to expected norms or authenticate a signature associate with the certificate issuance notification message. Upon validating, the device may then transmit a uniform resource locator, extracted from the certificate issuance notification message, to a network entity configured for processing certificate issuance.

Abstract: An electronic device includes password protected functionality using a password that can be changed by the user. A user-specified password is stored in association with unique version data that is subsequently provided to help user recall of the password associated therewith.

Abstract: A method and device for identifying degradation in service quality for a wireless media service. The wireless media service has a known expected packet generation rate, which may be determined by the device based upon the codec and payload size selected on initiating the media service. At a receiving device, the packets actually received by the device from the other termination point are counted over a time period, and this number is compared with the number of packets that were expected based upon the known packet generation rate. From this comparison a packet loss rate may be determined. If the packet loss rate exceeds a threshold level, then the device may issue a user alert, terminate the service, or take other action. The threshold level may be established based upon a packet loss rate corresponding to a significant degree of service quality degradation.

Abstract: A system and methods for coordinating the operation of a client security module and a host security module on a mobile electronic device. The modules communicate with each other through a platform abstraction layer using application programming interfaces to coordinate their activities. In particular, on start-up of the device, the host security module obtains user authorization input from a user and passes the input to a client operating system for validation. Once validated, the host security module unlocks the host-side of the device. At the same time, the client operating system sends a notice or request to the client-side virtual machine requesting that the client-side be unlocked. Once the virtual machine is initialized and available it launches the client security module and unlocks the client-side. During the delay while the virtual machine loads, the user is given access only to the host applications.

Abstract: A mobile communication device has a power amplifier and a power pack. The power pack includes a charge storage component, a first pair of taps connected to the charge storage component for supplying power to components of the mobile communication device and a second pair of taps connected to the charge storage component for supplying power to the power amplifier, the second pair of taps located, when the power is installed in the mobile communication device, more proximate to the power amplifier than the first pair of taps. With the second pair of taps positioned more proximate to the power amplifier, the power amplifier current loop that includes the multi-tap power pack may be made smaller. One benefit of a smaller power amplifier current loop may be reduced emission of RF interference signals.

Abstract: When multiplicative splitting is used to hide a scalar in an Elliptic Curve scalar Multiplication ECSM operation, the associated modular division operation employs the known Almost Montgomery Inversion algorithm. By including dummy operations in some of the branches of the main iteration loop of the Almost Montgomery Inversion algorithm, all branches of the algorithm may be viewed, from the perspective of a Power Analysis-based attack, as equivalent and, accordingly, devoid of information useful in determining the value of the scalar, which may be a cryptographic private key.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to the authentication of contactless payments attempted by a device having embedded contactless payment functionality. In particular, the disclosure is directed to systems and methods that utilize authentication schemes that already exist on a device in which the contactless payment functionality is embedded. One example of such authentication schemes is the use of password protection to lock or unlock the device in which the contactless payment functionality is embedded. Using the password protection functionality may provide varying levels of authentication protection based on the desires of the user. A number of exemplary uses of such a method and apparatus are disclosed herein.