Abstract: A method of distributing map data from a map server to a wireless communications device entails generating a bitmap array representative of the vector map data for a given zoom level, computing attributes of the bitmap array to determine which map features to retain and which map features to suppress, and then transmitting to the wireless device only the map data for the map features to be retained. By counting the number of bitmap cells representing a polygonal map feature such as a park, lake, or island, the approximate area is quickly estimated. If the area falls below a threshold, the map data for the small polygon is discarded. Similarly, if a polyline map feature overlaps (or is too proximate to) another polyline map feature, one of the polyline map features is discarded. The map data actually transmitted is thus reduced, thereby economizing bandwidth without unduly sacrificing map detail.

Abstract: A system and method for determining the availability of a mobile communications device on a network based on a prediction that the device will cross a peer-defined service boundary. The service boundary may be the periphery of a region in which the received signal strength is stronger than a minimum value, or the periphery of a region in which a particular service provider's signal is dominant. When the device is about to cross the service boundary, or has crossed the boundary, a notification of a change in service is issued to at least one of the user of the device, a presence service, or another network operator. The notification may comprise a change in the presence status of the mobile communications device. The service boundary is defined using aggregated data from a plurality of mobile communications devices reporting the received signal strength at various geographic locations.

Abstract: Various embodiments are provided herein for a connector that can provide electrical and mechanical coupling between first and second objects. The connector generally comprises at least one connecting element that has at least one first and second contact portion, at least one guidance portion located towards the end of the at least one connecting element and adjacent to one of the at least one first and second contact portions; and a biasing portion that is adjacent to the at least one first and second contact portions. The biasing portion is configured to provide an electrical connection between the at least one first and second contact portions and to resiliently move the at least one connecting element from a first position to a second position to provide a mechanical coupling force to the first and second objects.

Abstract: A system and method for sending and receiving packets is provided. An embodiment includes a system comprising a wireless communication device configured to communicate with at least one application server via device access node and a wireless local area network. The wireless communication device is configured to communicate with the device access node through the wireless local area network using at least one protocol layer that is native to the wireless local area network, and using at least one protocol layer that is native to the device access node. The device access node is configured to send and receive application information carried over above-described protocol layers.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for use in processing Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) calls in a network environment which includes a circuit-switched (CS) network and an Internet Protocol (IP) multimedia subsystem (IMS) network. In one illustrative technique, a SIP Register message is sent from a mobile communication device to the IMS network for registration of the mobile device. A SIP 200 OK message is received by the mobile device from the IMS network in response to sending the SIP Register message. The SIP 200 OK message has one or more variable call parameters or a network address at which to obtain the variable call parameters. The variable call parameters may include an E.164 number which may be dynamically assigned to the mobile device by the IMS network, and/or a time or timer value which defines a time period for which the E.164 number remains assigned to the mobile device. Other information may be included such as preferred access network/technology information.

Abstract: A contact is determined to be unavailable if a predetermined period of time has elapsed since an instant message was sent to the contact and an expected notification for the instant message was not received during that predetermined period of time by the device that sent the instant message. If the expected notification is a delivered notification, then the contact is deemed unreachable. If the expected notification is a read notification and a delivered notification for the instant message has been received by the device that sent the instant message, then the contact is deemed busy.

Abstract: A device for wirelessly communicating a service to user equipment is provided. The device includes a transmitter, a receiver, and a processor. The processor is programmed to promote the transmitter polling to determine whether user equipment desire a service and responsive to receiving, via the receiver, at least one user equipment request for the service, the processor programmed to promote the transmitter providing a point-to-multipoint (PTM) broadcast of the service.

Abstract: A mobile station is in a wireless local area network ‘WLAN’ environment and receives beacon frames that lack any WLAN regulatory information. The mobile station nonetheless determines a WLAN regulatory domain and configures the physical layer of its WLAN interface for operation in that WLAN regulatory domain.

Abstract: A scheme for redirecting data to a mobile communication device from a messaging server. One embodiment comprises one or more of the following: setting a redirection flag configured for a user associated with the mobile communication device to enable continuous redirection of data items received at the messaging server to the mobile communication device until the redirection flag is reset to indicate cessation of redirection of the data items; upon automatically detecting that a data item is received at the messaging server, redirecting the data item to a store-and-forward server associated with a wireless packet data network with which the mobile communication device is registered; and upon determining that a valid IP address is associated with the mobile communication device, transmitting the data item from the store-and-forward server to the mobile communication device over the wireless packet data network.

Abstract: A microstrip antenna may include an electrically conductive ground plane layer, a dielectric layer adjacent the electrically conductive ground plane layer, and an electrically conductive patch layer adjacent the dielectric layer on a side thereof opposite the electrically conducive ground plane layer. The electrically conductive patch layer may be electrically floating with respect to the electrically conductive ground plane layer and may comprise a body portion and a feed strip extending outwardly from an interior medial portion of the body portion. The feed strip may have opposing first and second sides and an end electrically connected to the body portion. The body portion may have spaced apart first and second slots adjacent respective ones of the first and second opposite sides of the feed strip, and a third slot adjacent the end of the feed strip and spaced from the first and second slots.

Abstract: A system for providing a multicast control channel (MCCH) including information related to a service is provided. The system includes a processor programmed to promote transmission of a MCCH including a multi-cell information portion that contains information common to a plurality of cells in a wireless telecommunications network, and a cell-specific information portion that contains information specific to one of the cells. A method for providing control information is also provided. The method includes transmitting a multicast control channel (MCCH) including information related to a service, wherein the MCCH has a cell-specific portion that contains information specific to a specific cell in a telecommunications network, and wherein the MCCH has a multi-cell portion that contains information common to a plurality of cells in the telecommunications network.

Abstract: A user equipment is provided that includes a processor programmed responsive to receiving a point-to-multipoint (PTM) broadcast of a service at a low quality, to request a point-to-point (PTP) communication from the network. A method is provided for user equipment to receive a service.

Abstract: A scheme for redirecting data items from a messaging system to a user's mobile communication device. One embodiment of a method comprises: configuring a plurality of redirection trigger events for a user, wherein upon occurrence of a redirection trigger event, a redirection flag configured for the user is set so as to enable uninterrupted redirection of data items to the user's mobile data communication device from the messaging system until the redirection flag is reset to indicate cessation of redirection of the data items; automatically detecting receipt of a new data item at the messaging system for the user, the new data item arriving subsequent to the setting of the redirection flag configured for the user; and processing at least a portion of the new data item for transmission thereof to the user's mobile communication device over a wireless network.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems and methods for conducting specific absorption rate testing of a mobile communication device. A system includes: a simulated head; a simulated hand positioned proximate to the simulated head for supporting the mobile communication device during the testing; a probe positioned within the simulated head; and a processor. The processor is operatively coupled to the probe and configured to determine a field strength of a field radiated by the mobile communication device. A method includes: positioning the mobile communication device in supported relation to a simulated hand; causing a probe to be positioned within a simulated head, the simulated head positioned in proximity to the mobile communication device; and determining a field strength of a field radiated by the mobile communication device.

Abstract: A redirector scheme operable to redirect messages from a plurality of messaging hosts disposed in a wide-area data network, wherein each messaging host is operable to receive messages for a set of users. In one embodiment, a redirector system comprises, inter alia: a plurality of receive agents and a corresponding plurality of send agents, wherein each pair of receive and send agents interacts together as a redirector agent with respect to a corresponding messaging host; means for automatically detecting arrival of a data item at the redirector agent from the corresponding messaging host for a particular user served by the corresponding messaging host; and means for processing at least a portion of an instance of the data item for transmission to a mobile data communication device associated with the particular user.

Abstract: A system and method for indicating when a message recipient is unavailable to receive messages in an instant messaging network, for example, being engaged in telephone communications on the receiving device, where disruption of service is likely or imminent. When notification of an inbound call is received the communications device transmits via the GPRS connection a packet indicating the impending unavailability of the recipient for messages, prior to disruption of the GPRS data stream to establish a GSM connection.

Abstract: Apparatus, and an associated method, for facilitating selection of an I-WLAN PLMN. A PLMN listing is created and maintained at a wireless device. The listing includes entries that identify PLMN together with their associated access technology indicators. The wireless device creates a list of available I-WLAN PLMNs. And a selector and comparator compare identities on the listing together with the list of available I-WLAN PLMNs. Selection is made of a PLMN on both the listing and the list and also exhibits an appropriate access technology capability identified by the access technology indication.

Abstract: A charger unit for an electronic device that includes a housing, a plurality of charging contacts provided on the housing, and a recess provided in the housing, preferably on a rear face thereof. A plug having a plurality of prongs may be selectively attached to and detached from the housing for electrically connecting the charger unit to a source of charging current. When attached to the housing, one or more of the prongs of the plug are electrically connected to a respective one of the charging contacts. In addition, a plurality of storage sockets are provided in the housing within the recess. Each of the storage sockets are adapted to receive and hold therein a respective one of the prongs of the plug to enable the plug to be safely and securely stored when not in use.

Abstract: A key arrangement includes a plurality of keys that are arranged in a regular grid of rows and columns. The columns include a first column, a last column, and at least one middle column. The keys in the first and last columns are smaller than the keys in the at least one middle column. A method for improving the ergonomics of a key arrangement on a keyboard of a fixed size is provided. A method for designing a key arrangement for a mobile communication device is also provided.

Abstract: An electrical connector is provided. The electrical connector has a housing which is supportable within an aperture of a printed circuit board. The electrical connector also has one or more electrical contacts that are disposed on the housing with at least some of the contacts each having a connectable portion extending from the housing in a direction generally parallel with a first axis. The electrical connector also has a number of opposed projections extending from the housing in a direction generally parallel with a second axis. The first axis is generally perpendicular to the second axis. The one or more contacts include a deflectable biasing portion which extends outwardly from the housing and which is structured to be electrically connected with the device.