Abstract: Reject code handling is utilized for a more time-efficient selection of data-capable networks. One illustrative method for use in selecting a wireless communication network for communications involves the steps of causing a request for data connectivity to be transmitted through a first wireless network; reattempting the request for data connectivity through the first wireless network one or more times if a reject code comprising a non-critical error is received in response to the request for data connectivity through the first wireless network; and attempting to select a second wireless network for communications without reattempting the request for data connectivity through the first wireless network one or more times if a reject code comprising a critical error is received in response to the request for data connectivity through the first wireless network.

Abstract: A balanced dipole antenna has a coaxial cable connected between a load or source and the left and right dipole arms to substantially eliminate common mode current and radiative coupling between the coaxial cable and the left and right dipole arms. The connection between the source/load coaxial cable and the left and right dipole arms is a symmetric balun having a center branch that is an extension of the source/load coaxial cable, and left and right stubs. When the stubs are segments of coaxial cable, the outer conductors of the left and right stubs of the symmetric balun are respectively coupled to the left and right dipole arms, and one of the inner conductors of the left and right stubs is connected to the inner conductor of the center branch, while the other of the inner conductor of the left and right stubs is connected to the outer conductor of the center branch.

Abstract: A mobile device having a protective user interface cover is provided. The mobile device includes a mobile device housing having a top surface. The user interface is preferably mounted within the top surface of the mobile device, and may include a display, a keyboard, a touch screen, a touch surface, or any other type of user input and display apparatus. The protective cover comprises a protective surface and a positioning mechanism, wherein the protective cover is mounted to the mobile device housing such that the positioning mechanism positions the protective surface between a first position in which the protective surface covers the user interface in the top surface and a second position in which the protective surface does not cover the user interface in the top surface.

Abstract: A federated authentication service technology (10) for authenticating a subject (20) residing in a subject domain (12) on a network to a server application (38) residing in a server domain (18), wherein an authentication mechanism (32) residing in an authentication domain (16) affects the service provided by the server application (38). A client (22), which may be integrated non-human instances of the subject (20), authenticates the subject (20) and a protocol proxy (34) mediates with the authentication mechanism (32) to obtain a name assertion which the client can use to access the server application (38). When multiple authentication mechanisms (32) are available, an optional agent (24), mechanism resolution process (26) and mechanism repository (28), all residing in an agent domain (14), may be used to resolve to one suitable authentication mechanism (32).

Abstract: A test fixture, for testing an electronic device, includes: a test platform including electrically conductive contacts protruding from a device receiving surface in the test platform; a positioning guide disposed on the device receiving surface; a device retention cover; where the test platform includes a platform magnetic member and the retention cover includes a cover magnetic member, the platform magnetic member and the cover magnetic member being mutually magnetically attractive. A method of producing an electronic device including: preparing the test fixture, for testing the electronic device; placing the electronic device using the at least one device positioning guide disposed on the device receiving surface; and placing the device retention cover upon the electronic device to apply a force to the electronic device.

Abstract: A method and system for testing assembled mobile devices is provided. In accordance with one embodiment, there is provided a method for arranging test stages in a production line for the assembling and testing of wireless communications devices. The method comprises the steps of: determining a plurality of tests for testing an assembled wireless communication device, each test in the plurality of tests being one of an interactive test requiring physical actuation or mechanical dynamics to be performed on one or more interactive test components of the assembled wireless communication device, and a non-interactive test requiring no physical actuation or mechanical dynamics to be performed on the assembled wireless communication device; allocating each interactive test to an interactive test stage in the production line; and allocating each non-interactive test between the interactive test stage and a non-interactive test stage in the production line.

Abstract: A housing 26 for a mobile communication device 10 includes a housing member 58 that encloses the mobile communication device 10. An opening 54 is positioned in the housing member 58 for accepting a battery 68. A door 56 is positioned over the opening 54 in the housing member 58, with an access port 50 defined through the housing member 58 positioned under the door 56 for contacting an internal element 52 of a mobile communication device 10, such as an antenna 52. A method for testing an antenna 52 in a mobile communication device 10 having a housing 26 with an antenna access port 50 defined therethrough, an antenna 52, a battery compartment 54, and a removable cover positioned over at least part of the housing 26 is also described.

Abstract: A method for providing application-defined notifications to a user upon receipt of an event at a device is provided. A list of applications is centrally maintained, the list defining, for each application, event identification and corresponding event notification. Whenever an event is received and identified, the corresponding event notification for the event identification is dispatched to the user.

Abstract: A wireless device may alert a wireless smart card reader that communication of data between the wireless device and the wireless smart card reader is probably imminent by sending an activation alert. Upon receipt of the activation alert, if the wireless smart card reader is in a low-power state, the wireless smart card reader may enter a higher-power state. If the wireless smart card reader is in the higher-power state upon receipt of the activation alert, the wireless smart card reader may remain in the higher-power state until a timeout period has expired. The wireless device may instruct the wireless smart card reader to enter the low-power state by sending a deactivation alert if the wireless device identifies that communication of data between the wireless device and the wireless smart card reader is not likely to occur within a specified period of time.

Abstract: A first wireless device controls its visibility by disabling its discoverable mode or modes upon ascertaining that a second wireless device does not require the first device to be in a discoverable mode in order to establish connections therebetween.

Abstract: A handheld data processing device includes stored data that is intended to be kept secure from unauthorized access. The handheld data processing device includes applications that store such secure data and which make use of plain text data corresponding to the secure data. An identifier is defined to be associated with defined plain text data. When the handheld data processing device is placed in a locked or secure state, code executable on the device is able to search for plain text identifiers. Code executable on the device is consequently able to display to the user whether plain text data is stored on the device or not.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for transferring an application state, of a first application being executed on a first electronic device, from the first electronic device to a second electronic device that is coupled to communicate with the first electronic device. The method comprises transmitting at least one application state element to the second electronic device and executing a second application on the second electronic device according to the application state elements.

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: A joint demodulation filter for reducing co-channel interference between a desired signal and a co-channel interfering signal may include an input receiving samples of the desired signal and the co-channel interfering signal, a Viterbi decoder, and a first signal path between the input and the Viterbi decoder comprising a first filter. The joint demodulation filter may further include a second signal path between the input and the Viterbi decoder and comprising a linear finite impulse response (FIR) modeler for generating a channel impulse response estimate for the co-channel interfering signal. Additionally, a third signal path may be between the input and the Viterbi decoder and include a whitened matched filter for generating a channel impulse response estimate for the desired signal.

Abstract: A wireless communications device may include a wireless transmitter and a wireless receiver. The wireless receiver may include a filter for reducing co-channel interference and may include a multi-channel, space-time filter circuit that filters n signal parts that have been split from a communications signal by jointly estimating space-time filter weights and multi-channel impulse responses (CIRs) based upon a singular value decomposition (SVD).

Abstract: A filter for reducing co-channel interference within a communications receiver may include a multi-channel, space-time filter circuit that filters n signal parts that have been split from a communications signal by jointly estimating space-time filter weights and multi-channel impulse responses (CIRs) based upon QR and eigenvalue decompositions. The filter may further include a multi-channel, matched filter circuit that receives multi-channel signals from the multi-channel, space-time filter circuit and has a filter response that is provided by a channel impulse response estimation from the space-time filter circuit.

Abstract: Mailbox pooling pre-emptive criteria is set forth for use in an adaptive polling system for synchronizing data between a mail server and a mobile communication device. The polling engine stores an indication of the number of messages in the mailbox, the total mailbox size (i.e. the used storage size in bytes), and the last message ID from the last poll. In the next poll, the polling engine retrieves this information from the mailbox and checks against the values stored from the last poll. If the information is the same, then there is no need to compare the message ID list. Whenever either the number of messages in the mailbox or the mailbox size or last message ID has changed, then the full comparision of the message ID list is performed.

Abstract: A multiple-element antenna for a multi-band wireless mobile communication device is provided. The multiple-element antenna includes a first antenna element, a second antenna element positioned adjacent the first antenna element, and a parasitic coupler positioned adjacent the first antenna element and the second antenna element. In one embodiment, the first and second antenna elements have respective first and second operating frequency bands, and electromagnetically couple with each other and with the parasitic coupler when the multiple-element antenna is operating in the first or second operating frequency band. The first and second antenna elements are configured to be connected to first and second transceivers in a wireless mobile communication device in an alternate embodiment.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for selecting a cellular network to provide one or more communication services for a mobile communication device are disclosed. A scanning operation is performed by the mobile device to identify a plurality of cellular networks that support a voice communication service in a geographic coverage area. The mobile device then identifies which of the cellular networks makes a data communication service available to it. Advantageously, the mobile device assigns priority to or selects a cellular network that makes the data communication service available over a network that fails to make the data communication service available, and may register with that network. The data communication service may include, as examples, an e-mail communication service or an Internet access service. Preferably, the cellular network operates in accordance with GSM (Global System for Mobile) and GPRS (Generalized Packet Radio Service).

Abstract: A wireless communications device may include a wireless transmitter and a wireless receiver. The wireless receiver may include a filter for reducing co-channel interference and may include a multi-channel, space-time filter circuit that filters n signal parts that have been split from a communications signal by jointly estimating space-time filter weights and multi-channel impulse responses (CIRs) based upon QR and eigenvalue decompositions. The filter may further include a multi-channel, matched filter circuit that receives multi-channel signals from the multi-channel, space-time filter circuit and has a filter response that is provided by a channel impulse response estimation from the space-time filter circuit.