Abstract: A portable communication device has a modular inner chassis containing a main printed circuit board and an outer housing for releasable engagement over the inner chassis so as to substantially completely enclose and conceal the inner chassis. The outer housing has at least two parts. A first part of the outer housing contains a keypad and a separate keypad printed circuit board for connection with a keypad connector on the main printed circuit board when the housing is engaged over the inner chassis. The outer housing and inner chassis have releasable interengaging formations for releasably securing the first and second parts of the outer housing over the inner chassis.

Abstract: A wireless communication device for geographically locating a second wireless communication device includes a housing; a push-to-locate activation mechanism configured to detect selection of a target number corresponding to the second wireless communication device and send a push-to-locate request for the target number to a carrier network to obtain a geographical location of the second wireless communication device using a location-based service; and a display configured to present a geographical location of the second wireless communication device received in response to the push-to-locate request.

Abstract: A frequency-tunable capacitively-loaded magnetic dipole antenna includes a transformer loop having a balanced feed interface, and a capacitively-loaded magnetic dipole radiator with a tunable effective electrical length. In one embodiment, the capacitively-loaded magnetic dipole radiator includes a tunable electric field bridge. For example, the capacitively-loaded magnetic dipole radiator may comprise a quasi loop with a tunable electric field bridge interposed between the quasi loop first and second ends. The electric field bridge may be an element such as a ferroelectric (FE) tunable capacitor or a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) capacitor, to name a couple of examples. In certain embodiments, the capacitively-loaded magnetic dipole radiator includes a quasi loop with a loop perimeter. The effective electrical length of the radiator is changed by adjusting the perimeter using an element such as a MEMS switch, or a semiconductor switch.

Abstract: A system and a method for location-based responses are provided. A mobile device receives location information from, for example, a global positioning system (GPS) to determine its present location. The location is checked against target range areas corresponding to target locations programmed in the mobile device. If the determined present location of the mobile device is within a particular target range area corresponding to a particular target location, the mobile device provides the particular target response that was programmed in the mobile device to correspond to the particular target range area and the particular target location.

Abstract: A retractable visual display is movable along a longitudinal axis of the visual display from a retracted position within the device housing of the portable communication device to an extended position where at least a portion of the visual display is exposed outside of the device housing in the extended position. The visual display is off when retracted and power is supplied to the visual display only in the extended position although the communication functions are active when the visual display is retracted within the device housing. In some circumstances, a secondary display presents limited information when the visual display is retracted.

Abstract: A base station comprises a GPS receiver configured to periodically locate and receive information from GPS satellites, and a transmitter configured to periodically transmit the received GPS satellite information to at least one of a plurality of GPS enabled devices. The GPS enabled device receives the information, stores it, and then uses the stored information to automatically acquire GPS satellites when it receives a position request.

Abstract: A target handset in a wireless communication network receives a PTT call announce message that is broadcast over a plurality of base stations without first sending a page message to precisely locate the target handset. The plurality of base stations cover a geographic region in which the target handset is expect to be located. Accordingly, the call setup delay introduced by first broadcasting a page message to precisely locate the target handset is eliminated. The additional burden on the network to broadcast the larger announce message is negligible because the bandwidth available in the forward common control channel (“FCCCH”) is sufficient to handle the larger message with no degradation to the network. Additionally, the announce message can be streamlined to reduce its data size and thereby minimize any additional burden on the network.

Abstract: A wireless communications device reconfigurable radiation desensitivity bracket, and associated reconfigurable radiation desensitivity method are provided. The method includes: generating a radiated wave at a first frequency; in response to generating the radiated wave at the first frequency, creating a maximum current per units square (I/units2) through a minimal area of an electrical circuit groundplane; generating a radiated wave at a second frequency; in response to generating the radiated wave at the second frequency, maintaining the maximum I/units2 through the minimal area of the groundplane. Alternately stated, the method controls the distribution of current flow through a groundplane, responsive to radiated emissions, as the wireless device changes operating frequency or communication band. More specifically, the method maintains the maximum I/units2 through the minimal area of the groundplane by coupling the groundplane to a bracket having a selectable effective electrical length.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for sending caller ID information including a PTT signal up to a user interface module quickly, instead of first sending an incoming call alert or an incoming call alert and caller ID information without PTT information, and later sending the PTT information. A bypass alert message may be included with the caller ID information relating to the incoming call message sent from the main control task to the user interface module.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for managing system software download operations in a wireless communications device. The method comprises: executing system software; launching a run-time engine; processing dynamic instruction sets; and, in response to processing the dynamic instruction sets, managing the downloading of system software updates received via an airlink interface using management functions selected from the group including recovery status monitoring, back up, compacting, and update ordering.

Abstract: A wireless PC card includes a housing portion including a width and a lens extending substantially the width of the housing portion; a light pipe housed by the housing portion; a substantially flat plug portion extending from the housing portion and configured to be received by a socket of a portable computer for communicating the PC card with the portable computer; an antenna for sending and receiving a wireless signal connected to the housing portion; and a circuit board including an illumination device and electronics to cause the illumination device to emit flashing illumination, causing the lens to emit flashing illumination via the light pipe while the PC card searches for a wireless signal and emit steady state illumination, causing the lens to emit steady state illumination via the light pipe while the PC card maintains a sufficient wireless signal connection.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for improving signal reception in a wireless communication device by selectively processing one of two or more signals received over two or more antennas that are configured at least partially orthogonal. In one embodiment, the signal source selection is based on comparison of a signal error rate to a threshold value. Error rates in excess of the threshold value may initiate a switching apparatus to selectively enable signal reception from a different antenna to improve the error rate. In one embodiment, amplifiers are located between the switching apparatus and the two or more antennas to thereby reduce noise. In an alternative embodiment control signals selectively enable and disable the amplifiers to control signal reception.

Abstract: A wireless communication device comprises an N-plexer, that is, a multi-band device, connected to a single antenna for receiving multiple communication bands on the single antenna. The N-plexer includes a receive band pass filter of a receive signal path to receive a signal in a certain frequency bandwidth for each of the multiple of communication bands. The N-plexer also includes a GPS receiver filter for receiving GPS signals. The communication device also comprises an amplifier coupled with each of the plurality of receive signal paths. The amplifier is configured to amplify the receive signals associated with each of the plurality of receive signal paths.

Abstract: A method for tracking location of a first class of user and a second class of user includes determining a location of a first class of user, updating a first class of user location database with the location of the first class of user, determining a location of a second class of user, updating a second class of user location database with the location of the second class of user, comparing location of the first class of user with the location of the second class of user, determining whether predetermined criteria related to the location of the first class of user with the location of the second class of user is met, and initiating a communication to one or more entities if the predetermined criteria is met.

Abstract: A transparent mobile handset housing with graphical elements such as alphanumeric characters, icons, and logos positioned directly onto the housing with visibility enhanced through backlighting. The transparent housing is covered with an opaque coating and omitted portions of the opaque coating form a negative image of the graphical elements, or the housing is left transparent and opaque graphical elements are coated onto the housing. A backlighting source from within the housing, such as an array of light emitting diodes or an electroluminescent panel, provides illumination to the housing. In the case of negatively imaged graphical elements, the graphical elements are illuminated. In the case of opaque graphical elements, the surrounding transparent housing is illuminated.

Abstract: Methods to manipulate the mobile wireless device screen more efficiently are provided. The method and devices allow a graphical user interface to be used more efficiently on a mobile handset with limited processing ability. A graphical user interface can be implemented on a mobile wireless device efficiently by limiting processing to only the areas of the display screen on the mobile wireless device that is changing. For example, if a graphical item is to be displayed on the display screen the value in the display screen memory location that will be covered by the graphical item can be stored for future use. If the graphical item is later moved the stored value can be retrieved and efficiently written to the display without the need to recalculate what was behind the graphical item.

Abstract: Embodiments of this invention supplement the termination process having the mobile subscriber unit to terminate the call upon completion of an OTA programming session. In one embodiment, the termination is initiated by the mobile subscriber unit after every session. In another embodiment, the termination is initiated after the network fails to terminate the call. In another embodiment, the termination is only initiated in circumstances where it is known that the service provider has failed to terminate the call.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for regulating the electrical length of an antenna. The method comprises: communicating transmission line signals at a predetermined frequency between a transceiver and an antenna; sensing transmission line signals; and, modifying the antenna electrical length in response to sensing the transmission line signals. Sensing transmission line signals typically means sensing transmission line signal power levels. In some aspects, the antenna impedance is modified. Alternately, it can be stated that the transmission line signal strength is optimized between the transceiver and the antenna. More specifically, communicating transmission line signals at a predetermined frequency between a transceiver and an antenna includes accepting the transmission line signal from the transceiver at an antenna port. Then, sensing transmission line signals includes measuring the transmission line signal reflected from the antenna port.

Abstract: The present invention provides a peer-to-peer data communication system and method that allows a first handset and a second handset to engage in data communications over a wireless communication network. In doing so, the first handset creates a server opcode set and combines the server opcode set with a corresponding server data payload. The server opcode set and corresponding server data payload are then sent to a network server where the data is extracted and the opcodes are translated into executable instructions that are carried out. The executable instructions cause the network server to compile a remote opcode set and a corresponding remote data payload. This remote opcode set and remote data payload are sent to the second handset, which is identified by the first handset in the server data payload.