Abstract: A method of assigning contact phone numbers of a select number of contact phone numbers in a wireless, display-less, keypad-less communication device includes accessing a website on a global computer network to assign contact phone numbers to respective lights and call buttons for the contacts; receiving a prompt to enter data identifying the device; inputting data identifying the device; receiving a prompt to enter a phone number for each contact in a data field for the respective light and call button; entering a phone number for each contact in the data field for the respective light and call button; and transmitting the entered data to the device so that the contact phone numbers are assigned to the respective call buttons and the respective lights.

Abstract: An exemplary mobile broadband modem for network access comprises a processor coupled to an I/O interface capable of being communicably coupled to a plurality of computers, a transceiver coupled to an antenna and the processor, and a network sharing module executed by the processor that establishes a network connection via the transceiver and allows computer to then utilize the network connection. The mobile broadband modem may include a chassis for securing the PC card modem transceiver within the chassis.

Abstract: A stereo headset interface that is compatible with mono for an audio playback device. A load in series between an audio output from a stereo headset driver and a ground of a mono headset plug prevents the audio output from being grounded when a mono headset plug is inserted into the stereo headset jack of the playback device. A second load in series between a second audio output and the mono headset plug balances the first and second audio outputs from the stereo headset driver.

Abstract: A printed circuit board unbalanced dipole antenna is provided for a wireless communications device. Digital and/or transceiver circuits are mounted on first portion of the printed circuit board that is positioned within a main body of a chassis of the device. A radiator is formed from a printed conductive line overlying a circuit board dielectric layer of a second portion of the printed circuit board. The printed conductive line has a first end for connection to the digital and/or transceiver circuits via a transmission line, and a second un-terminated end. The circuit board dielectric layer is positioned with an antenna section of the chassis that extends outward from the main body of the chassis. To shorten the overall length of the antenna, the printed conductive line is an alternating pattern of a plurality of first sections with a first orientation and a plurality of second sections with a second orientation.

Abstract: An improved smart antenna reception method and devices are provided that determine when to select a new antenna configuration in a multiple antenna configuration system. One embodiment attempts to eliminate unneeded configuration searching. Unneeded configuration searching can degrade overall signal quality and system performance. Configuration changing can be minimized by determining that a signal quality received from a first antenna configuration is below a threshold and changing antenna configuration. After changing antenna configuration, if the signal quality received from the second antenna configuration is lower than the signal quality received from the first antenna configuration the threshold can be lowered. By lowering the threshold, the probability of additional configuration changing can be reduced.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method dynamically adjust an antenna network frequency response in accordance with an operation mode of a half duplex call. One of a plurality of antenna network configurations is selected based at least partly on the half duplex operation mode which comprises a talk mode and a listen mode. When the portable communication device is in a listen mode, the antenna network is tuned to a reception configuration which results in a reception efficiency that is greater for at least a portion of a reception frequency band than the reception efficiency resulting from at least one other antenna network configuration. The antenna network is maintained in a default configuration unless antenna adjustment conditions are met. In some situations, the antenna network is set to a transmission configuration to improve transmission efficiency relative to the default configuration.

Abstract: A system and process for updating files on a wireless mobile device is provided. The wireless mobile device has an RF(radio frequency) card which cooperates with a wireless network to provide wireless communication. In one example, the wireless network maintains a message contact list on a network server. The message contact list contains address information useful for sending textual, video, audio, or image messages through the wireless network. When the wireless mobile device is activated on the network, the message contact list is transmitted to the wireless mobile device. The wireless mobile device is then able to use the message contact list to generate and transmit messages.

Abstract: A wireless communication device is provided with a multipart case, having electrical interfaces that encourage the flow of radiation frequency ground current between case sections. The multipart case has a first planar groundplane section and a second planar groundplane section. For example, the multipart case design may be a slider, double slider, multiple hinge, flip, or swivel case. The second planar groundplane is substantially coplanar with the first groundplane in a case open position, and substantially bi-planar with the first groundplane in a case closed position. The wireless device also includes an antenna located adjacent the second groundplane section first end. A first and a second interface electrically connect the first groundplane section to the second groundplane section second end (the end opposite the antenna).

Abstract: An efficient way to communicate with a mobile handset for testing and debugging is described. The communication process can also be used to make updates to the mobile handset. Data from a mobile handset can be analyzed. This data may include, for example, information relating to the performance of the mobile handset or information related to errors that have occurred on the mobile handset. Additionally, data relating to battery performance, performance statistics, error logs, standby and talk time may also be analyzed. A request is encoded and transmitted to a mobile handset. The encoded request is received at the mobile handset and a message responsive to the encoded request is transmitted. The encoded response is received and decoded. The encoded messages, both the encoded request and the message responsive to the request are communicated as a text message.

Abstract: GPS functionality is added to a wireless communication device in an efficient and cost effective manner. Disclosed is a wireless communications device that has a common mixer constructed to be used for a GPS signal and another signal, a common IF filter constructed to be used for a GPS signal and another signal, in addition to other cost effective embodiments.

Abstract: A wireless communications device attempts to originate an emergency E911 call on a first system. If the system sends a global service redirection message (GSRM), including a redirect list, then the device scans alternate systems from the redirect list. if the redirect systems are not available, the device and again attempts to originate the E911 call on the first system. If the origination is not accepted on the first system, then the device scans an E911 list. If the device fails to acquire a system on the E911 list, the device returns to the first system to reattempt origination if the first system has directed the device to “return if failure”. If origination is not honored on the first system, the device enters an emergency silent redial scan mode and continues attempts at origination until accepted by the first system.

Abstract: An multi-position wireless communication device comprises a first housing portion and a second housing portion. The second housing portion is capable of being arranged in a first closed position relative to the first housing portion and in a second open position relative to the first housing portion. The wireless communication device further comprises at least one external key situated on the exterior surface of one of the first and second housing portions. The at least one external key is capable of being activated by a user when the wireless communication device in the closed position for defining a call recipient and for initiating a call to the call recipient.

Abstract: Persistent files stored in non-XIP flash memory are accessed during operation of an electronic device. During execution of application code on the device, the persistent files are accessed using an access directory such as a look-up table. The access directory provides information that allows an application or other software code running on the processor of the device to locate and access a persistent file within a non-XIP flash memory device where the non-XIP flash memory device may include bad blocks. During creation of the access directory, locations of the bad blocks in the device are identified and recorded. Files are accessed from the non-XIP flash memory device by reading from file start locations identified in the access directory while accounting for bad blocks identified in the bad block data of the access directory.

Abstract: A system and a method for receiving and transmitting information in a multipath environment provide a wireless communications system. The wireless communications system provides a switching module that is adapted to couple a receiver module to either a first antenna or a second antenna as a function of reception characteristics of the first antenna and the second antenna. The switching module is also adapted to couple a transmitter module to the either the first antenna or the second antenna as a function of transmission characteristics of the first antenna and the second antenna.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for improving performance of a communication receiver. An exemplary method comprises calculating a rate of error associated with a received signal at a first time; comparing the rate of error at the first time to a first threshold rate of error; if the rate of error at the first time exceeds the first threshold rate of error, increasing current provided to a mixer in the receiver; calculating a rate of error associated with a received signal at a second time; comparing the rate of error at the second time to a second threshold rate of error; and if the rate of error at the second time is less than the second threshold rate of error, resetting the mixer current.

Abstract: A single-feedpoint multiband monopole antenna is provided with independent radiator elements. The antenna comprises a microstrip counterpoise coupler having a single-feedpoint interface, a first radiator interface, and a second radiator interface. A first microstrip radiator, i.e. a meander line microstrip, has an end connected to the counterpoise coupler first radiator interface, and an unterminated end. A second microstrip radiator, i.e. a straight-line microstrip, has an end connected to the counterpoise coupler second radiator interface, and an unterminated end. The two radiators are capable of resonating at non-harmonically related frequencies. As with the two microstrip radiators, the microstrip counterpoise coupler is a conductive trace formed overlying a sheet of dielectric material. The counterpoise coupler can come in a variety of shapes, so that the overall antenna may take on a number of form factors.

Abstract: A wireless communication device includes a housing, and a retractable combination speaker box and antenna mechanism operably coupled with the housing. The retractable combination speaker box and antenna mechanism includes a speaker box with an enclosed acoustic volume, and an antenna. The retractable combination speaker box and antenna mechanism is movable between at least a retracted position where the retractable combination speaker box and antenna mechanism is adjacent with the housing, the antenna is in a retracted condition, and the speaker box includes a retracted enclosed acoustic volume, and a deployed position where the retractable combination speaker box and antenna mechanism is moved away from the housing, the antenna is in a deployed condition farther away from the housing than the retracted condition, and the speaker box includes a deployed enclosed acoustic volume that is greater than the retracted enclosed acoustic volume.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for diversifying radiated electromagnetic communications in a wireless communication device having a plurality of embedded antennas. The method comprises sensing conducted electromagnetic transmission line signals communicated by the antennas, selecting between the antennas in response to sensing the transmission line signals, and modifying antenna electrical performance characteristics in response to sensing the transmission line signals. In some aspects sensing transmission line signals includes sensing transmission line signal power levels. For example, the power levels of the radiated signals conducted on the transmission lines can be sensed or the transmission line signal power levels of transmitted signals reflected by the antennas are sensed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method measure a temperature of a temperature sensing element having a temperature dependent resistance based on a ratio of discharge times of a capacitor through a reference resistance and through the combination of the reference resistance in parallel with the temperature sensing element is disclosed. A reference discharge time is determined by measuring the discharge time of the capacitor from a first voltage to a second voltage through a reference resistance. A temperature evaluation discharge time is determined by measuring the time to discharge the capacitor from the first voltage to the second voltage through the reference resistance in parallel with the temperature sensing element. The ratio of the temperature evaluation discharge time to the reference discharge time is used to determine the temperature and produce a digital representation of the temperature.