Abstract: A particular charger configured to be electrically coupled and communicatively coupled to a particular portable electronic device is described. The particular charger includes an AC/DC converter, a controller, a charger memory, a charger cable, and an authentication module. The controller provides a means for processing the data from the particular portable electronic device memory by synchronizing the device memory with the charger memory. The illustrative portable electronic device is a wireless handset.

Abstract: A scroll wheel hinge assembly for an electronic device is described. The scroll wheel hinge assembly may be used for an electronic device that pivotally connects a flip module with a base module having a keypad. The flip module has a front face with an internal display and a back face with an external display. The hinge assembly includes a cylindrical rotatable assembly, a flip-closed position, and a flip-open position. More particularly, the cylindrical rotatable assembly is configured to enable the flip module to rotate in relation to the base module about a rotatable axis associated with the cylindrical rotatable assembly. The cylindrical rotatable assembly also includes either a free-wheel or a touch sensitive component on the exterior of the cylindrical assembly. In the illustrative embodiment, the touch sensitive component is configured to perform a scroll function that includes a scroll-up operation and a scroll-down operation.

Abstract: A method and device bracket are presented for reconfigurable radiation desensitivity. The method includes: accepting a radiated wave from a source such as a transmitter, antenna, microprocessor, electrical component, integrated circuit, camera, connector, or signal cable; in response to the radiated wave, creating a first current per units square (I/units2) through a groundplane of an electrical circuit such as a printed circuit board (PCB), display, connector, or keypad; accepting a control signal; and, in response to the control signal, creating a second I/units2 through the groundplane. This step couples the groundplane to a bracket having a selectable effective electrical length. Typically, the groundplane is coupled to a bracket with a fixed physical length section to provide a combined effective electrical length responsive to the fixed physical length and the selectable effective electrical length.

Abstract: A memory manager acts on a memory that has been arranged with a predetermined number of fixed memory blocks, with each memory block set to a predefined size. These fixed blocks have been initialized to accelerate the allocation process. When a memory manger receives an allocation request, the size of the request is compared to the predefined size. If the memory manager determines that the fixed memory block handles the memory request, then the memory manager allocates one of the fixed blocks to the pending memory request. If no fixed block is available to handle the request, then the memory manager may allocate the memory from a free memory pool. The memory manager may search the available free memory blocks to identify and allocate the optimum free block that satisfies the pending allocation request.

Abstract: An exemplary method for updating acquisition list in a wireless communication device having a first transceiver and a second transceiver is disclosed. The acquisition list associated with the second transceiver. The exemplary method comprises updating a first category of entries of the acquisition list over a wide area network via the first transceiver and updating a second category of entries of the acquisition list by a user through input means on the wireless communication device.

Abstract: A device and method for providing a control arm integral to a portable electronic device are disclosed. An exemplary device comprises a portable electronic device having a processor communicably coupled with a memory and a control arm, and an enclosure housing the memory and processor and defining a reference surface that defines a reference axis. The control arm has a deployed and a stowed configuration where the control arm length, as measured along the reference axis, is reduced in the stowed configuration.

Abstract: A stringed instrument wireless communication device includes a wireless communication device housing including a front; graphical elements on the front corresponding to data to be input into the wireless communication device; and a stringed instrument keypad including a plurality of frets extending along the front of the wireless communication device housing and a plurality of strings extending substantially perpendicular to and above the plurality of frets. The graphical elements are respectively disposed on the front between frets and adjacent to the strings, and the stringed instrument keypad is configured to input data corresponding to a pressed string and a graphical element adjacent to the pressed string.

Abstract: A system and method are presented for transceiving Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) telephone communications through a common filter. The system includes a tunable ferro-electric bandpass filter (FE BPF), a controller, a low noise amplifier (LNA), and a power amplifier (PA). The FE BPF has a control input to accept tuning voltage signals from the controller and two signal ports. In response to the tuning voltage signals, the FE BPF selects a transmit or receive frequency passband between the signal ports. The FE BPF first signal port is connected to the LNA and the PA and the FE BPF second signal port is connected to an antenna in a wireless device. The LNA and PA are activated and deactivated in response to control signals from the controller.

Abstract: A side-tone circuit comprises a microphone configured to generate a reverse link audio signal and a side-tone noise suppressor. The side tone noise suppressor is configured to receive the reverse link audio signal, suppress noise in the received reverse link audio signal, and output a noise suppressed side-tone signal. The side-tone noise circuit also includes a speaker configured to receive the noise suppressed audio signal and communicate it to a user.

Abstract: An alias can be used to access address book information across multiple communication applications. The alias can also be a screen name, for example, an instant messenger screen name. However, the alias can be used to access more than just instant messenger contact information; it can be used to access other information, including telephone numbers, SMS, EMS and MMS contact information as well as instant messenger contact information. Additionally, the single alias can be used to access instant messenger contact information across multiple instant messenger services. An alias can be assigned that is easy to remember; for example, it can be a shortened version of the contact's name, or a nickname.

Abstract: A mobile handset including a light-alert feature that overcomes some of the problems of cell phone ringers and vibration mechanisms. A mobile handset includes a phone housing, a display carried by the phone housing, one or more illumination devices other than the display carried by the housing that illuminate upon one or more events, and at least one of electronics and software to cause the one or more illumination devices to illuminate upon one or more events.

Abstract: A system and method for making a band selection in a wireless communications device is provided. The available bands include a first-communication band, a second communication band, and an auxiliary band. A wideband diplexer provides a wideband path, which includes the first-communication band and the auxiliary band, and a second-communication band path. A combination duplexer couples to the wideband path, and has an auxiliary signal port, a first-band receive port, and a first-band transmit port. A standard duplexer couples to the second communication path to provide a second-band receive port and a second-band transmit port. In one example, the first communication band is the PCS band, the second communication band is the cellular band, and the auxiliary signal is a GPS satellite signal.

Abstract: A method of displaying a long animation is provided. The animation is defined in an animation file, which identifies a set of images that form the animation when sequentially displayed. A batch processor segments the set of images into sequential subsets, with each subset sized smaller than a maximum size. In this way, all of the images identified in a particular subset may be loaded into memory. Each subset of images is associated with a respective segment identifier, and an instruction is provided along with the images to order the subsets. In this way, a first subset of images provides for the loading of a second subset of images, thereby enabling the display of long animations.

Abstract: A speaker enhancer for a wireless communication device includes an acoustic chamber forming section that, when the speaker enhancer is mounted to a rear of the wireless communication device, forms a sealed acoustic enclosure along the rear of the wireless communication device; and a speaker engagement section that, when the speaker enhancer is mounted to the rear of the wireless communication device, sealingly engages the rear of the wireless communication device and communicates the rearward-facing, rear-mounted speaker with the sealed acoustic enclosure. In use, rearwardly directed sound emitted from a rearward-facing, rear-mounted speaker travels through the speaker engagement section to the sealed acoustic enclosure, and primary sound from the speaker is emitted through sound leaks in the wireless communication device.

Abstract: A patch antenna includes a radiating element positioned on one side of a printed circuit board and an electromagnetic shield positioned on the opposite side of the printed circuit board. The electromagnetic shield forms at least a portion of a counterpoise and is connected to the ground of the PCB in at least one location. Design flexibility in positioning the antenna within a portable communication device is maximized while the size of the portable communication device is minimized.

Abstract: A method of displaying a long animation is provided. The animation is defined in an animation file, which identifies a set of images that form the animation when sequentially displayed. A batch processor segments the set of images into sequential subsets, with each subset sized smaller than a maximum size. In this way, all of the images identified in a particular subset may be loaded into memory. Each subset of images is associated with a respective segment identifier, and an instruction is provided along with the images to order the subsets. In this way, a first subset of images provides for the loading of a second subset of images, thereby enabling the display of long animations.

Abstract: Systems and methods for modifying the area code in a wireless communication device are provided that provide authorization from the carrier. The wireless communication device contains a table of valid area codes in persistent memory. The table defines the complete set of area codes that can be used by the wireless communication device. The wireless device is capable of receiving an instruction from the network that causes the current area code to be changed to a new area code from the table of valid area codes. Alternatively, the wireless device is capable of receiving an instruction from the network that causes the current table of area codes to be replaced with a new table of area codes that is received from the network along with the instruction. After installation of the new table of valid area codes, then the wireless communication device can be instructed to change from the current area code to a new area code in the new table of valid area codes.

Abstract: A wireless communication system includes a location assist system that is configured to interface with a network, such as the Internet, or a server, such as an HTTP server, to obtain GPS information. The GPS information can then be used to provide wireless devices within the wireless communication system with GPS assistance information that allows the wireless devices to quickly and efficiently acquire GPS satellites signals.