Abstract: A mono-band planar inverted F antenna (PIFA) structure comprises a planar radiating element having a first area, and a ground plane having a second area that is substantially parallel to the radiating element first area. An electrically conductive first line is coupled to the radiating element at a first contact located at an edge on a side of the radiating element. The first line is also coupled to the ground plane. An electrically conductive second line is coupled to the radiating element at second and third contacts located along the same side as the first line, but at different locations on the edge than the first contact. Useable bandwidth of the PIFA is increased by using multiple contact locations to couple the conductive second line to the radiating element. The first and second lines are adapted to couple to a desired impedance, e.g., 50 ohms, at frequencies of operation of the PIFA.

Abstract: A mono-band or multi-band planar inverted F antenna (PIFA) structure comprises a planar radiating element having a first area, and a ground plane having a second area that is substantially parallel to the radiating element first area. The second area further comprises a section having a meandering form elongating the effective overall length of the radiating element.

Abstract: Systems and methods of pointing in hand-held devices are described. In accordance with this scheme, a user may control the position where a pointer is displayed on a display screen simply by changing the orientation of the hand-held device relative to a currently preferred device orientation, which is tracked automatically. In addition, unintentional device orientation changes, such as periodic device orientation changes that might be caused by carrying the hand-held device while walking or driving, are filtered out dynamically. In this way, the pointer may be positioned accurately and reliably at any one of a plurality of pointer screen locations based upon changes in device orientation under a wide variety of different usage conditions.

Abstract: A modular wireless telephone including a base module having connection area on a face of the base module, the connection area configured to electrically couple to and mount an input device and a display device. Various types, sizes and configurations of input devices and display devices can be interchangeably used with the base module to provide a modular wireless telephone flexibly adaptable for various applications.

Abstract: A Network Auto-Discovery service is provided. In operation, an administrator inputs a set of IP (Internet Protocol) address ranges inside which the distributed system exists. The Auto-Discovery Unit (104) steps through the IP addresses in the ranges testing each one to determine if there is a machine at that IP address. If a machine is found at that address, an exploration process is begun. First, attempts are made to contact a Responder (112) on the machine. If one exists, the Responder (112) accepts the configuration information provided to it. Then the Responder (112) returns a set of objects that describe the hardware and software components of that machine. The returned information contains a list of management applications associated with system components. The Auto-Discovery Unit (104) then stores this information. The location and exploration process is repeated at scheduled intervals indefinitely.

Abstract: A system, method, apparatus, means, and computer program code for allowing an authorized party to join a conference are provided. In some embodiments, an application may create or generate a request for an MCU to handle an ad-hoc or meet-me type conference. The application may provide the request to an MCU resource controller or other device. The MCU resource controller may have knowledge of the capabilities of one or more MCUs and be able to assign an MCU to host or otherwise handle the conference. In addition, the MCU resource controller may create or generate a resource address that a participant in the conference may use to access the assigned MCU. The MCU resource controller can provide the resource address to the application, which may then distribute the resource address to one or more parties participating in the conference. The resource address may include or have associated data that the assigned MCU can use to validate or authorize a party to join the conference.

Abstract: Memory segment overwrites are detected by providing a redundant header at the end of a segment and comparing a redundant header to an initial header. In specific embodiments, overwrites may be detected both after segment writes and prior to buffer reads. In further embodiments, some header overwrite errors may be corrected to increase the mean time between failure of a logic system.

Abstract: Many portable computing devices include data based applications such as schedules, contact managers, and the like, which can be synchronized with another computing device, such as a desktop computer, whereby the data on both synchronized devices are conformed. The present invention discloses a method and apparatus that allows such data to be selectively synchronized, wherein the user can specify, on a record-by-record basis, which other databases receive or synchronize with each record. The present invention allows multiple users to synchronize portable computers with the same desktop (or other) computer without necessarily sharing all of their synchronizable data.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus used in systems for communicating data (e.g., voice, video and alphanumeric data), including but not limited to telecommunications systems, computer systems, to efficiently utilize bandwidth by performing bit sensitive peer addressing. Apparatus (and related methods) for performing bit sensitive peer addressing include a parallel bus of data bits, a clock bit, a bid/busy bit, and an ack bit. The invention further includes a plurality of port devices coupled to the bus. Each port device includes bus interface circuitry, port control circuitry, and line interface circuitry. The clock signal is used to synchronize messages on the bus and to divide the time domain into timeslots (one timeslot being the reciprocal of the clock frequency). According to the invention, no frame reference is used and traffic on the bus is controlled using a protocol. Each port has an address which is one of the data bits of the bus.

Abstract: A mobile communication device includes a display assembly that may be extended from the housing of the mobile communication device to provide a larger display surface for displaying information to a user of the mobile communication device. The display assembly is movable between a retracted position wherein the display assembly is retracted within a cavity formed in the housing and an extended position wherein the display assembly is extended from the housing. The display assembly includes a display for displaying information to a user of the mobile communication device. A window is provided in the housing for allowing the user to view at least part of the display when the display assembly is retracted within the cavity. Information displayed by the display is mapped to the display so that the information may be viewed through the window while the display assembly is retracted within the cavity.

Abstract: A mobile communication device includes a display that may be extended to provide a larger display surface for displaying information to a user of the mobile communication device. The mobile communication device comprises a housing assembly including a first housing portion and a second housing portion. The second housing portion is interconnected with the first housing portion so that the second housing portion slides between a retracted position and an extended position. A display is positioned within the second housing portion so that at least a substantial portion of the display is held behind the first housing portion when the second housing portion is in the retracted position and at least a substantial portion of the display is viewable by a user of the mobile communication device when the second housing portion is in the extended position.

Abstract: A holder for a mobile communication device comprises a receptacle for optimally reducing the SAR value of a mobile communication device secured within the receptacle. At least one material portion, a patch, causing electromagnetic losses may be placed within the receptacle to optimally reduce exposure to low level radio frequency energy to an individual carrying a mobile telephone secured within the receptacle. The patch formed of electromagnetic field reducing material may be placed in one or more particular areas of the receptacle to attenuate one or more corresponding regions of the mobile telephone in which the SAR value is substantially at a local maximum. This may allow a reduction of the SAR value of a mobile telephone while limiting the performance loss associated with the reduction of the SAR value of the mobile telephone when the mobile telephone is secured within the receptacle.

Abstract: A simple means is provided to test the cross connect wiring of a communications system which uses a POTS splitter to separate broadband and narrow band signals. A suitable frequency test signal such as 1 KHz tone is fed at sufficient amplitude to the broadband port of the POTS splitter, so that even after attenuation by both the POTS splitter capacitance and inductance filters, it is detectable by suitably sensitive detectors connected to the narrow band port of the POTS splitter. The test signal may be applied intermittently to enable its detection even in low signal to noise situations.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for controlling the ability of an ACD server to pull back a call from an IVR server and for allowing an ACD caller to complete a critical transaction while connected to an IVR include special processing and network signaling which enable the ACD to set a pull back status flag and grant permission to the IVR to request a change in the pull back status flag. An exemplary protocol and message encoding are disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for controlling call handling in a communications network. The methods and apparatus include special processing and network signalling (between network communications devices) which enable a caller to complete a critical transaction, without interruption. An exemplary protocol and message encoding are disclosed.

Abstract: A conference call arrangement, conferencing device, conference unit and a method of managing conference calls. The conferencing device may be a speakerphone with a speak up indicator. Whenever a conference call attendee does not speak loudly enough for remote participants, the conference unit sends a speak up indication to a corresponding conferencing device.

Abstract: A system, method, apparatus, means, and computer program code for facilitating online presence based actions. According to some embodiments of the present invention, an entity's presence status may trigger an action in accordance with a rule established by a user. A system or apparatus may include a task client application adapted to initiate an action upon receipt of instructions from a task manager. The task manager may receive presence status information for the entity from a presence client, determine if a rule has been satisfied by the entity based on the entity's presence status, and provide the instructions or information to the task client application regarding the action.

Abstract: A system and method for a gatekeeper (108) to multicast commands to all gateways (106) in the system. The gateways (106) listen for one of their peer gateways (106) to accept. If one accepts, then the other gateways ignore the pending call request. The gatekeeper (108) making the request can specify an order in which the gateways (106) are to respond to its request. The order may be based on a variety of factors, such as number of calls presently being handled by a particular gateway (106) or cost of calls. Further, the gateways (106) may be provided with timers to process a call request in the requested order if a gateway (106) earlier in the queue fails to respond.

Abstract: A telecommunications system includes a conferencing server (104, 106), a recording server (114) operably coupled to the conferencing server; and one or more telecommunications clients (110). The telecommunications clients (110) can use the conferencing server to supervise conversations between two or more of the parties. The recording server (114) is used to record conversations among the parties and store them as one or more digital files. The telecommunications clients (110) may further be provided with user interfaces (112) that allow control of the recording server (114) for real-time playback during a conversation. The user interface allows the user to control backup; normal speed forward; fast forward; back to beginning; and go to end (i.e., back to real-time output for the call).

Abstract: A wireless communications device, network and method of wireless communications. The wireless device (e.g., a cell phone) allows users to respond to calls silently by selecting prompts. Each prompt is replaced with a recorded vocal response. The caller hears the recorded response.