Abstract: Methods, devices and systems for wireless communication. A device user defines a list of contacts and receives a collective indication of which contacts are located within a neighborhood of the device. The neighborhood is defined at the device, for example by the device itself or by the user. A plurality of device users define respective user profiles including user attributes. One of the users defines a target attribute, and receives an indication of which other users that have that attribute have devices in the first user's neighborhood. The devices communicate among themselves either indirectly, for example via cellular base stations, or directly.

Abstract: A mobile device including a casing, a signal generator housed within the casing, for generating signals, at least one speaker housed within the casing and coupled with the signal generator, for producing sound from a signal generated by said signal generator, wherein the sound produced by the at least one speaker is (i) substantially inaudible, and (ii) vibrates the casing at a frequency approximately equal to a resonant frequency of the casing.

Abstract: A system for updating firmware on electronic devices, including an electronic device, including a processor, a storage coupled with the processor for storing a current image of firmware that includes programmed instructions for the processor and a baseline image of firmware, an update utility coupled with the processor for instructing the processor to update the firmware stored in the storage, and a connector coupled with the processor for connecting the electronic device to a jacket, thereby enabling communication between the electronic device and the jacket, and a jacket, including a storage for storing a firmware difference image for updating the firmware in the electronic device to a newer version, and a port for connecting the electronic device connector thereto, wherein the update utility instructs said electronic device processor (i) to apply the firmware difference image to the baseline the of the firmware to generate a newer version image of the firmware, and (ii) to replace the current image of the

Abstract: A communication card with three operational states, including a controller, a battery, a flash storage unit, a wireless modem, and a connector for connecting the communication card to a shell host and to an electronic device host, wherein the communication card (i) operates in a standalone mode when the connector is not connected to a device, (ii) functions as a master when the connector is connected to the shell host, and (iii) functions as a slave when the connector is connected to the electronic device host. A method and a computer-readable storage medium are also described and claimed.

Abstract: A communication system including a communication system, including a modular cell phone, including a baseband modem for connecting to a core mobile network via a cellular network, and a connector for physically connecting the modular cell phone to a port of a mobile electronic device, and a mobile electronic device, including a modem for connecting to the core mobile network via an IP access network, a port for physically connecting the modular cell phone to the mobile electronic device, and a connection enhancer for receiving a connection of an ongoing cellular phone call, between the modular cell phone and the core mobile network via the cellular network, and seamlessly handing over the ongoing phone call to a voice over IP connection, between the mobile electronic device and the core mobile network via the IP access network, in response to the modular cell phone being connected with the mobile electronic device port. A method is also described and claimed.

Abstract: A communication system including a wireless communicator including a baseband modem for connecting to the Internet via a cellular network, and a connector for physically connecting the wireless communicator to a laptop computer port, and a laptop computer including a wireless modem for communicating in a wireless mode with the wireless communicator, a port for physically connecting the wireless communicator to the laptop computer and for communicating in a wired mode with the wireless communicator, and a connection wedge, wherein the laptop computer connects to the Internet via a link between the laptop computer and the wireless communicator, and wherein the connection wedge selectively uses the wired mode or the wireless mode for the link according to whether or not the wireless communicator is physically connected to the laptop computer, respectively. A method is also described and claimed.

Abstract: A bridge system for auxiliary display devices connected to a computer, including a computer running a plurality of mini-programs, each mini-program sending information of a specific nature from the computer to a corresponding auxiliary display device, for presentation to a user, a plurality of auxiliary display devices, each auxiliary display device including an auxiliary screen and each auxiliary display device having look & feel display parameters, for receiving information from the corresponding plurality of mini-programs, and for displaying the received information on the auxiliary screens according to the corresponding look & feel parameters, and at least one bridge device coupled to the computer, each bridge device coupled to at least one of the auxiliary display devices, each bridge device including a bridge screen, and each bridge device receiving information from a corresponding at least one of the mini-programs, forwarding the received information to the at least one of the auxiliary display

Abstract: A method for determining direction of signal transmission in a bi-directional signal line, including sampling data signals at two terminals, A and B, enabling data flow from A to B when data flow from B to A is not enabled, and a logical 0 bit is sampled at A, enabling data flow from B to A when data flow from A to B is not enabled, and a logical 0 bit is sampled at B, disabling data flow from A to B when data flow from A to B is enabled and two successive logical 1 bits are sampled at A, and disabling data flow from B to A when data flow from B to A is enabled and two successive logical 1 bits are sampled at B. An electrical circuit is also described and claimed.

Abstract: An electrical circuit for bi-directional power control between two devices, including a first battery-operated device, including a first battery for providing a source of power to the first battery-operated device, a first power management subsystem connected to the first battery, to power on and power off components of the first battery-operated device in response to a first wakeup event, WE1, and a first on/off button for generating WE1, a second battery-operated device, including a second battery for providing a source of power to the second battery-operated device, a second power management subsystem connected to the second battery, to power on and power off components of the second battery-operated device in response to a second wakeup event WE2, a second on/off button for generating WE2, and a switch for generating WE1 simultaneously when the second on/off button generates WE2, and circuitry including a single connection inter-connecting the first power management subsystem, the first on/off button, the

Abstract: A method for effective utilization of call idle time, including automatically detecting that a first person using a phone has initiated a phone call to a second person, and that the second person has not yet answered the call, wherein the phone is operative in an idle mode to present content pre-designated by the first person, and is operative in a normal mode to send and receive voice communications to and from the second person and to not present the pre-designated content, activating the idle mode of the phone in response to the automatically detecting, further automatically detecting that the second person has answered the call, and automatically activating the normal mode of the phone in response to the further automatically detecting. A cell phone is also described and claimed.

Abstract: A method for determining direction of signal transmission in a bi-directional signal line, including sampling data signals at two terminals, A and B, enabling data flow from A to B when data flow from B to A is not enabled, and a logical 0 bit is sampled at A, enabling data flow from B to A when data flow from A to B is not enabled, and a logical 0 bit is sampled at B, disabling data flow from A to B when data flow from A to B is enabled and two successive logical 1 bits are sampled at A, and disabling data flow from B to A when data flow from B to A is enabled and two successive logical 1 bits are sampled at B. An electrical circuit is also described and claimed.

Abstract: A system for bi-directional battery charging, including a first electronic device, including a first rechargeable battery, for providing power to the first electronic device, and a first battery charger, and a second electronic device, including a second rechargeable battery, for providing power to the second electronic device, a second battery charger, a voltage boost that receives an input voltage from the first rechargeable battery and is selectively enabled to either up-convert the input voltage as input to the second battery charger, or else to passively pass the input voltage to the second battery charger; and a controller for programmatically controlling the first and the second battery chargers and the voltage boost, wherein the second electronic device attaches to the first electronic device to operate in combination therewith, and wherein the controller is programmed to decide, based on the voltages of the first and the second rechargeable batteries: (i) whether to supply power to the second electro

Abstract: An analog/digital switching circuit for connecting a primary electronic device to a peripheral electronic device, including D+ and D? signal lines connected to a primary electronic device, a first analog/digital switch connected to the D+ signal line, for multiplexing an input D+ signal to an output USB data signal or audio left or right signal, the multiplexed signal feeding into a peripheral device connector for connecting the primary device to a peripheral electronic device, a second analog/digital switch connected to the D? signal line, for multiplexing an input D? signal to an output USB data signal or audio right or left signal, the multiplexed signal feeding into the peripheral device connector, a headset left signal line connected to the primary device and to the output audio left signal of the first analog/digital switch, a headset right signal line connected to the primary device and to the output audio right signal of the second analog/digital switch, a first USB signal line connected to a USB conn

Abstract: A wireless telecommunication device including a foreground unit, and a background unit that is physically separated from the foreground unit and in local communication with the foreground unit. The foreground unit is provided to support incoming calls independently of the background unit. Furthermore, the foreground unit and the background unit cooperate to support outgoing calls. The scope of the invention also includes a method for doing business by offering the foreground unit for sale in a packaging having a form factor selected from the group consisting of: a pen, a pen cap, a wristwatch, and a necklace.

Abstract: A communication card with three operational states, including a controller, a battery, a flash storage unit, a wireless modem, and a connector for connecting the communication card to a shell host and to an electronic device host, wherein the communication card (i) operates in a standalone mode when the connector is not connected to a device, (ii) functions as a master when the connector is connected to the shell host, and (iii) functions as a slave when the connector is connected to the electronic device host. A method and a computer-readable storage medium are also described and claimed.

Abstract: An integrated cordless and cellular phone system, including a base station for one or more cordless phones, the base station being served by a fixed line telephone network operator, including one or more slots for attaching one or more cellular phone modules therein, the cellular phone modules being served by corresponding cellular network operators, wherein each of the one or more slots is associated with a corresponding cordless phone, and call routing circuitry (i) for identifying an incoming call to the base station as being intended for a specific one of the cellular phone modules, and (ii) for routing the incoming call to the cordless phone that is associated with the slot to which the specific cellular phone module is attached. A method is also described and claimed.

Abstract: A system for generating and submitting reports about consumer electronics devices, including a consumer electronics device, including a host interface, for connecting a wireless communication card to a consumer electronics device, and a host memory storage unit, for storing technical information and usage information about the consumer electronics device, denoted INF-1, and a wireless communication card, including a controller, for executing programmed instructions, a power subsystem for supplying power to the communication card, a wireless modem coupled with the controller for receiving and transmitting data over the air, and a card interface for connecting the communication card to the consumer electronics device, wherein the controller is programmed to collect information INF-1, to generate a report including at least a portion of information INF-1, to collect recipient address information, denoted INF-2, and to submit the report to a recipient address as per information INF-2, via the wireless modem, over

Abstract: A system for automatically registering an appliance, including a storage housed within an electrical appliance for storing identifying information about the electrical appliance and its purchase, and a communication card including a controller, an interface connector for connecting the communication card to the electrical appliance, a wireless cellular modem for transmitting data, and a card memory for storing program code, wherein when the communication card is connected to the electrical appliance via the interface connector, the program code automatically instructs the controller to collect the identifying information about the electrical appliance and its purchase, to collect owner information and to transmit at least a portion of the collected information to at least one remote recipient using the cellular modem. A method is also described and claimed.