Abstract: A mobile wireless communications device includes a housing and circuit board carried by the housing. Radio Frequency (RF) circuitry is mounted on the circuit board. A first antenna is supported by the circuit board within the housing and operatively connected to the RF circuitry and configured for cellular phone communications A second antenna is supported by the circuit board within the housing and operatively connected to the RF circuitry and configured for WiFi communications. The second antenna comprises an inverted-F or monopole antenna having an opening gap that is pointed away from the first antenna.

Abstract: A handheld communication device capable of transmitting and receiving at least voice and text communication. The device has a body assembly including a front face arranged to be directed toward an operator of the device when held in a text communicating orientation. A display screen and a text-input keyboard are included and are each exposed at the front face of the body assembly. The keyboard has a plurality of keys that include a set of alphabetic keys with which either QWERTY-, QWERTZ- AZERTY- or Dvorak-arranged alphabetic characters are associated. An integrated camera assembly is also included that is configured for taking photographs and the communication device enabled to wirelessly communicate photographs taken with the camera assembly to a remote receiver. The camera assembly includes a photo-initiating actuator having an actuated position and an unactuated position and at least one of a selective enablement device or a selective disablement device.

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: Apparatus, and an associated method, for facilitating paging of an access terminal. A detector detects delivery at the access terminal of a paging message. The paging message includes a group of identities that are ordered. The ordering is determinative of an extra identity bit conveyed with the paging message.

Abstract: A scheme for redirecting messages from a messaging system to a mobile data communication device of a user. In one embodiment, a method comprises one or more of the following: automatically detecting arrival of a new message for the user at the messaging system, the new message having a sender address and the user's mail box address associated with the messaging system as a recipient address; processing the new message for transmission of at least a portion thereof to the mobile data communication device via a wireless network; receiving a reply message from the mobile data communication device, the reply message being in response to the new message; and processing the reply message to be returned to said sender address such that the reply message is seen as being originated from the user's mail box address.

Abstract: A scheme for redirecting data items from a messaging host system to a user's mobile device using a redirector component disposed in a wide-area data network. In one embodiment, a method comprises one or more of the following: automatically detecting receipt of a new data item from the messaging host system for a user over the wide-area data network; based on filtering rules configured for the user, determining if the new data item is to be redirected to the user's mobile device over a wireless network; and upon determining that the new data item is to be redirected, processing at least a portion of the new data item for transmission thereof to the user's mobile device.

Abstract: A mobile wireless communications device may include a portable housing having a surface, a printed circuit board (PCB) carried by the portable housing, and wireless transceiver circuitry carried by the PCB. The device may further include an antenna connected to the transceiver, and at least one electrically floating, electrically conductive, antenna beam shaping element secured to the surface of the portable housing for directing a beam pattern of the antenna.

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: Apparatus, and an associated method, for facilitating access terminal paging. A first non common portion of first and second identities are ordered. Once ordered, the non common portions are included in an access terminal paging message. The ordering of the non common portions are determinative of conveyance of a first additional identity bit.

Abstract: Apparatus, and an associated method, by which to form a quick page message for broadcast to access terminals to alert the access terminals of pending communication. The quick page message includes a structure formed of page identifier sets. During formation of the structure, a rearranger shortens the bit length of one or more of the page identifier sets. By reducing the bit length, the likelihood of a resultant redundant page identifier set, of the same bit length, is increased. Redundant page identifier sets are removable from the resultant quick page message.

Abstract: Apparatus, and an associated method, for facilitating paging of an access terminal operable in a radio communication system. A paging message is formed, selectably including partial identities of access terminals that are to be paged by the paging message. Determination is made as to whether portions of any of the partial identities have portions of common values. If portions of the partial identities have common values, such portions can be shared, and extra parts, resulting from sharing can be reallocated to increase the length of another partial identity.

Abstract: A system and method for establishing and maintaining an “always-on” data connection to a wireless network through the use of a back off timer and a service check timer is disclosed. The back off timer is initialized to a determined value when a connection is not established. When the timer expires, a connection attempt is made. As further connection attempts are made, the back off timer is set to ever-increasing values. When the data connection is established, the service check timer is initialized. The data connection status is determined at the expiry of the service check timer. When, at the expiry of the service check timer, the data connection is determined to be lost, the connection method is employed.

Abstract: Method for avoiding unauthorized images of a proprietor's information from being transmitted outside the proprietor's control. A photographic image captured with a camera incorporated upon the wireless handheld communication device is wirelessly transmitted to a proprietor's server. The image is stored on the server after capture and transmission, preferably while the device is still in the photography-restricted geographical area that is under the control of the proprietor of the server. Once at the server, the photographic image is analyzed to determine whether or not the image is authorized for dissemination outside the proprietor's control. Local storage of the photographic image can be prevented on the device which assures that the transmission and storage of the photographic image on the proprietor's server is exclusive.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing consistency in Short Message Service (SMS) timestamp formatting (UTC or non-UTC) for mobile communication devices are disclosed. In one illustrative example, a method involves receiving an SMS message intended for a mobile communication device; identifying whether the SMS message has timestamp data formatted in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) format or non-UTC format; converting the timestamp data from the UTC format to a non-UTC time format based on an identification that the SMS message has timestamp data formatted in the UTC format; failing to convert the timestamp data to a non-UTC time format based on an identification that the SMS message has timestamp data in the non-UTC format; and causing the SMS message to be sent to the mobile communication 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: An ergonomic cursor navigation controller for a handheld mobile communication device generally includes a navigation button having a ringed and waved upper surface and may further include an execution button disposed within a perimeter defined by the ringed and waved upper surface. The navigation button is provided for navigating a cursor about an electronic graphical display of the handheld mobile communication device. The ringed and waved configuration of the controller facilitates improved tactile operation of the controller and reduces the occurrence of pressing incorrect buttons on the handheld mobile communication device.

Abstract: A message status synchronization scheme. In one embodiment, a method may comprise: automatically detecting arrival of a message at a messaging server from a sender for a user having a mail address thereat, the message being displayable on a computer for the user with a status indicator icon associated therewith; processing at least a portion of an instance of the message for transmission to the user's mobile data communication device over a wireless network; upon receiving a reply message from the mobile data communication, configuring address information associated with the reply message and transmitting the reply message to the sending entity with the user's mail address as its originating address; receiving a status signal from the mobile data communication device indicating that the message has been replied to on the mobile data communication device; and altering the status indicator icon associated with the message on the computer responsive to the status signal.

Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus for selectably releasing radio resources allocated to a UE, or other mobile node, that is capable of operating pursuant to multiple, concurrent packet services. A radio resource release indication is generated and sent by the UE when radio resources for a selected packet service are no longer required. Radio resources are thereby releasable upon an individual-service basis.

Abstract: Apparatus, and an associated method, for paging an access terminal in a radio communication system. Dynamic configuration and reconfiguration of a quick page message is provided. Its configuration is dependent upon paging load in the system. Hash values are selected and used pursuant to the configuration, and use, of the message. A first hash value is selected within a first range. And, a second hash value is selected within a second range. The second range from which the second hash value is selected does not include the first hash value.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for storing, referencing, retrieving, and graphically displaying spatial and non-spatial related information of a mobile computing device, such as a laptop computer or a cellular telephone. The spatial-related information may be obtained by using positioning tracking systems such as a global positioning system, whereas the non-spatial related information may include communication activities associated with the mobile computing device, such as phone calls, e-mails, text messages, pages, etc. The present invention also provides methods and apparatus of sharing event information between mobile communication devices as well as related navigational information for traveling to an event from a real-time position of a mobile communication device.