Abstract: A method and apparatus for maintaining a maximum sustained flash current over the whole length of a flash using a programmable current drive in a handheld portable device powered by a battery. The method involves measuring the battery voltage before and after a flash is initiated and calculating the equivalent series resistance (ESR) of the battery. The calculated ESR is then used to adjust the flash current. The process may be repeated to correct for errors in the flash current.

Abstract: A method (200) and an apparatus (300) in a wireless portable communication device (102) for maintaining appropriate authentication credentials required for a common data application in a current service network are provided. A method (400) in a wireless communication network (106) for providing current authentication credentials required for the common data application accessible through the wireless communication network (106) is also provided. The wireless portable communication device (102) has default authentication credentials required for the common data application in a default service network (106), receives (204) a data session configuration file including authentication credentials based upon a predetermined condition, prioritizes (206) between the default authentication credentials and the received authentication credentials, and uses (208) the authentication credentials having higher priority for the common data application in the current service network (110).

Abstract: A handheld electronic device useful for wireless communication has a keyboard including a plurality of externally accessible keys and each key has at most, one letter associated therewith. The keys can be disabled (i.e. the keyboard can be locked) to prevent accidental actuation thereof by using the navigation tool which has a depressible rolling member. Thus, for example, depression of the rolling member twice in succession or pressing and holding the rolling member down temporarily enables the keyboard lock. The lock can be disabled simply by depressing the rolling member and at least one other key.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for telephony tone signal and character code generation for QWERTY keyboards includes a QWERTY style keyboard, a processor and a keyboard mode control software module. The QWERTY style keyboard has a plurality of letter keys, wherein each letter key is configured to generate a unique input signal. The processor is coupled to the keyboard and is configured to convert each unique input signal generated by the letter keys into a character code and/or a telephony tone signal. The keyboard mode control software module operates on the processor, and controls whether the processor converts the unique input signals from the letter keys into character codes or telephony tone signals.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for localizing applications that are used with hand-held electronic devices.

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 test method is for determining RF sensitivity of an RF receiver for a plurality of channels extending over a frequency band(s) using an RF source coupled to the RF receiver by an RF communications link. The plurality of channels may include channels having a predictable RF sensitivity and a channel(s) having a non-predictable RF sensitivity. The test method may include measuring an RF sensitivity for one or more of the channels having the predictable RF sensitivity, and generating a partial RF sensitivity function for the channels having the predictable RF sensitivity based thereon. The method may further include measuring an RF sensitivity for the channel(s) having the non-predictable RF sensitivity. Additionally, an overall RF sensitivity function may be generated for the plurality of channels based upon the partial RF sensitivity function, and based upon the measured RF sensitivity for the channel(s) having the non-predictable RF sensitivity.

Abstract: A method is provided for reuse of one of a plurality of hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) Process ID. The method includes receiving signaling used to associate at least one of the plurality of HARQ Process IDs with semi-persistent scheduling. The method further includes determining an activation of a semi-persistent resource. The method further includes associating the at least one of the plurality of HARQ Process IDs with the semi-persistent resource. The method further includes receiving a non-semi-persistent data communication utilizing the at least one of a plurality of HARQ Process IDs.

Abstract: A method is provided for associating initial transmissions and retransmissions in semi-persistent scheduling. The method includes providing a first initial transmission associated with a first assigned Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) process ID. The method further includes providing a second initial transmission associated with a second assigned HARQ process ID. The method further includes providing at least one retransmission associated with the first HARQ process ID. The second initial transmission occurs before the at least one retransmission, and the second assigned HARQ process ID is different from the first assigned HARQ process ID.

Abstract: In a device communicating over a network, a proxy to delay timeout of an application on the device where the proxy is on a communications path between the application and the network, the proxy comprising means for registering a data request from the application to the network; a counter for measuring a predetermined time interval, the time interval selected to prevent timeout at the application; means to send preventative data to the application after the counter has expired but before a response is received; means for modifying a response received from the network to remove preventative data already sent to the application, creating a modified response; and means for forwarding the modified response to the application, wherein the proxy registers that a message has been sent and waits a predetermined interval, and if a response has not been received during that interval sends the preventative data to the application to delay a timeout.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system and methods for configuring data communications in a wireless communications system is provided. Based on location and capabilities information received from mobile communications devices and host services, relay services control the accessibility to certain data services, either enabling access or disabling access.

Abstract: A system and method for implementing an enhanced transport layer security (ETLS) protocol is provided. The system includes a primary server, an ETLS servlet and an ETLS software module. The primary server operates on a computer network and is configured to communicate over the computer network using a non-proprietary security protocol. The ETLS servlet also operates on the computer network and is securely coupled to the primary server. The ETLS servlet is configured to communicate over the computer network using an ETLS security protocol. The ETLS software module operates on a mobile device, and is configured to communicate over the computer network using either the non-proprietary security protocol or the ETLS security protocol Operationally, the ETLS software module initially contacts the server over the computer network using the non-proprietary security protocol, and subsequently contacts the server through the ETLS servlet using the ETLS security protocol.

Abstract: A method for evaluating and balancing communication traffic loading in a mobile communications network includes a mobile communications device that detects a first signal strength from a current base station, and a current traffic indicator for the current base station. The mobile device also calculates a current base station adjusted signal strength indicator as a function of both the first signal strength and the current traffic indicator. The traffic indicator for an adjacent base station is identified, and the mobile device calculates an adjacent base station adjusted signal strength indicator as a function of both an adjacent base station signal strength and the traffic indicator for the adjacent base station. The current base station adjusted signal strength indicator is compared with the adjacent base station adjusted signal strength indicator to determine whether to roam to the adjacent base station.

Abstract: A hand-held electronic device with a keyboard optimized for use with the thumbs is disclosed. In order to operate within the limited space available on a hand-held electronic device, the present invention optimizes the placement and shape of the keys, preferably using keys that are oval or oblong in shape, and that are placed at angles designed to facilitate thumb-typing. The angles at which keys on either side of the keyboard are placed is complimentary.

Abstract: Antenna apparatus, and an associated methodology, for a multi-frequency-band-capable radio device, such as a quad-band mobile station. The antenna apparatus forms a hybrid strip antenna having a pair of resonant elements. A first resonant element forms a peripheral loop extending about the periphery of a substrate. A meander line extends along a portion of the peripheral loop. And, second resonant element is formed of an L-shaped strip. The peripheral loop is resonant at a set of frequencies, and the L-shaped strip is resonant at a single frequency. Through appropriate selection of the lengths of the resonant elements, the frequencies at which the elements are resonant are controlled.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a housing having a back, a support tray moveable relative to the back of the housing, a touch-sensitive display supported by the support tray and moveable with the support tray relative to the back of the housing, the touch-sensitive display including a display device and a touch-sensitive overlay disposed on the display device, a locking arrangement cooperating with the support tray for locking the support tray and touch-sensitive display to inhibit movement of the support tray relative to the back of the housing, and operational components housed in the housing and including a touch screen controller connected to the touch-sensitive overlay and a processor connected to the display device and the touch-screen controller.

Abstract: A battery management system for managing a plurality of subsystem circuits and functions of a mobile communication device powered by a battery is disclosed. The battery management system includes a battery monitoring circuit a user interface, and a battery management module. The battery monitoring circuit is operable to monitor a present battery capacity and generate a battery capacity signal based on the present battery capacity. The user interface is operable to receive a user-input allocation of battery capacity among the subsystem circuits and functions. The battery management module is operable to receive the user-input allocation and the battery capacity signal, and to selectively disable each subsystem circuit or function when each subsystem circuit or function has depleted its allocation of battery capacity.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system and method for controlling interfacing parameters for a device when connected to a host is provided. The method comprises: monitoring for an initial connection by the device to the host; then, while the device is establishing the connection with the host, utilizing a communication bus controller contained in a microprocessor in the device to process communications with the host at a first data transmission rate; and after a predetermined condition, re-establishing the connection with the host using a second bus controller in the device that processes the communications at a second transmission rate that is higher the first data transmission rate.

Abstract: A system and method for searching and retrieving certificates, which may be used in the processing of encoded messages. In one embodiment, a certificate synchronization application is programmed to perform certificate searches by querying one or more certificate servers for all certificate authority (CA) certificates and cross-certificates on the certificate servers. In another embodiment, all certificates related to an identified certificate are retrieved from the certificate servers automatically by the certificate synchronization application, where the related certificates comprise at least one of one or more CA certificates and one or more cross-certificates. Embodiments of the invention facilitate at least partial automation of the downloading and establishment of certificate chains, thereby minimizing the need for users to manually search for individual certificates.