Abstract: A method and system of wireless signal repeating. A wireless signal repeater may receive a group of signals and select signals to be amplified so as to produce amplified signals. The repeater may also select antenna elements to re-transmit the amplified signals. The repeater may further select areas to direct the elements' radiation patterns in order to provide extensive wireless service to desired areas. The repeater can perform any of these selection functions simultaneously and/or independently, and based on any desired criteria. For example, each signal received into the wireless signal repeater may carry an identifier. The repeater may perform the selection functions based at least in part on the identifiers of the signals.

Abstract: A method and system for dynamically controlling a voice-processing mechanism in a voice command platform. The platform receives a specification during a voice command session with a user and responsively sets a mode of operation of the voice-processing mechanism. The platform can receive the specification from various sources, such as a user (e.g., as a voice command), a stored user profile record, a voice command application and/or another stored table or data source. Example modes of operation include (i) use of a designated text-to-speech engine from among multiple text-to-speech engines, (ii) use of a designated voice prompt store from among multiple voice prompt stores, (iii) muting of a speech recognition engine, and (iv) selection of a secondary phoneme dictionary for use in recognizing phonemes in incoming speech signals.

Abstract: Methods and a system are provided for allowing a subscriber to control the call handling at a customer premises equipment. A calling party can place a call from anywhere in a carrier network to a subscriber at a customer premises equipment. The carrier network prompts the subscriber with call information and a list of call processing choices. The subscriber can select one of the choices and the call is handled properly by the system. The methods and system allow the subscriber to interact with the carrier network in real-time.

Abstract: A system for managing communications between a first node and a second node in a telecommunication network. Communication normally flows between the first node and the second node via a first communication link in the network. The flow can be re-routed, under a user's control, via a second communication link that may be less expensive or have a lower QoS. A user sends a control signal into the network that indicates the second communication link between the first node and the second node should be used for a subsequent telecommunication connection. In response to the control signal and an address signal that indicates a called station, the system establishes the telecommunication connection between the calling station and the called station via the second communication link.

Abstract: A method and system for playing a media sample representing a full media selection on a wireless handset and, in turn, requesting the full media selection to be sent to a client station other than the wireless handset. The method and system provides for a user of a wireless handset to receive one or more media samples from a media content provider, such as a media server. The user can then request one or more full media selections from the media server, and the media server can, in turn, e-mail to the user a hyperlink for each full media selection selected by the user. The user can then invoke the hyperlink to access a full media selection at a client station other than the wireless handset.

Abstract: A method and system for responding to a request to establish a dial-up data session from a user terminal to a remote destination. Instead of initiating a dial-up data session, the user terminal will initiate a packet-data session with a translation node and will provide the translation node with information about initiating the dial-up data session. The translation node will then initiate circuit-data session with the remote destination and will bridge the packet-data session with the circuit-data session, so as to establish an end-to-end data session between the user terminal and the remote destination. Advantageously, by setting up a packet-data session between the user terminal and the translation node, the underlying data may be carried over an access link at a higher service level than would normally be provided for a circuit-data session carried over that access link. Further, this can be done transparently to a user.

Abstract: A method and system for notifying a user that the user is engaging in interstitial communication. An intermediation system within an HTTP communication path between a content server and a client station engages in interstitial communication with a client station. During the interstitial communication, the intermediation system sends one or more interstitial screens to the client station and includes in each screen a predefined interstitial notice. Further, to help safeguard against the possibility that a third party will try to provide the interstitial notice within an HTTP response to the client station, the intermediation system can be arranged to detect and strip the interstitial notice from any such HTTP response.

Abstract: Channel elements at a cell site in wireless network are managed by reserving a portion of the channel elements for handling certain types of calls for which the reserved channel elements are capable of handling. At least some of the non-reserved channel elements will typically lack the capabilities of the reserved channel elements, due to there being previous generation or older technology. For example, in a cell cite having both 3G and 2G channel elements, a percentage of the 3G channel elements, such as 15 percent, are reserved for certain types of calls, such as 3G data call origination and 3G voice hand-ins. These are types of calls that the 2G channel elements do not support. The remaining 3G channel elements are not reserved. If the non-reserved channel elements are fully utilized, the reserved channel elements may, or may not, be released for general usage so as to prevent a blocking of calls, depending on quality of service considerations for the site.

Abstract: A portable phone having a keypad, a display screen, and a navigational key positioned between the keypad and the display screen, where the display may be physically be moved into a position between the navigational key and the keypad to allow the phone to be transformed into a device with improved ergonomics for using the phone as a gaming device.

Abstract: A method and system of selecting antennas and/or equipment for use within a wireless communication system is disclosed. A cell site may have one antenna-arrangement shared between multiple groups of radio equipment that are each operated by respective wireless service providers at the cell site. The cell site may also have a base station controller that may select from the shared antenna-arrangement an antenna for radiating signals from the groups of radio equipment. The base station controller may also select from the multiple groups of radio equipment a group of radio equipment for processing signals received at the shared antenna-arrangement.

Abstract: A method and system for managing message-presentation in a subscriber station. A message and a time-based schedule for the presentation of the message are sent over a communications network to the subscriber station. As a response to this, the subscriber station may responsively present the message according to the time-based schedule. Further, a schedule-change order may be sent to the subscriber station to change the time-based message-presentation schedule. Such a change may, for instance, substitute a substitute-schedule for the original schedule, alter a schedule for presentation, or delete a schedule.

Abstract: A phone holster including a phone carrier attached to a foldable keyboard having a side movable about a pivot to allow the keyboard to extend from a closed position to an open position.

Abstract: A method and system for selecting a mobile station active set based, at least in part, on the geographic location of the mobile station. A base station or other entity monitors the mobile station's location. When the location changes, the base station refers to a predefined sector-coverage database to identify as the active set one or more sectors that each encompass the mobile station's location. If more than one sector encompasses the location, the base station may further select as the active set a subset of one or more sectors to which the mobile station is closest.

Abstract: A mobile information device may execute a Java MIDlet or a non-MIDlet application. The mobile information device may further include an object-oriented application program interface that allows one or more object-oriented object classes to allow input and output data to be communicated between Java MIDlets in different MIDlet Suites and between non-MIDlet applications. The application program interface may be used to allow applications to access a universal message handler executing on the mobile information device.

Abstract: An MSC receives a request from a mobile station to originate a call to a directory number that corresponds to another mobile station. The MSC sends a query that includes the directory number to an off-board translation center (OTC). The OTC determines from the directory number whether the call can be transcoder-free and, if so, provides a response with a transcoder-free indication. If the response includes a transcoder-free indication, the MSC selects a transcoder-free communication path for the call.

Abstract: A method and system having one or more fractal antennas for communicating signals. The fractal antennas are coupled to a diversity receive circuit for receiving the signals. The diversity receive circuit provides an output signal based on a combination of the receive signals. The fractal antennas and the diversity receive circuit can help compensate for, or reduce the effects of fading. Additionally, a transmitter provides a transmit signal. One of the fractal antennas may both transmit and receive signals. Alternatively, a transmit antenna, separate from the receive antennas, may transmit the transmit signals. The fractal antennas may also be fractal arrays for providing additional resistance to fading.

Abstract: A method and system that helps to reduce delay in initiating communication sessions. A network entity operates as a signaling agent on behalf of a terminating node and positively acknowledges a session initiation request on behalf of the terminating node without first receiving a positive acknowledgement from the terminating node. For example, the network entity may first send an alert message to the terminating node and then positively respond to the session initiation request before receiving from the terminating node a response to the alert message. As another example, the network entity may first positively respond to the session initiation request and then send an alert message to the terminating node. This arrangement can advantageously allow the session setup process to continue, without first waiting for an actual positive acknowledgement from the terminating node.

Abstract: An autonomous eclone (10) comprises a plurality of interface agents (15,20,25,30) operable to interact with a person; an expert system (35) operable to process a command originated by any of the agents (15,20,25,30); and a database (40) accessible by the expert system (35) and operable to store all available information associated with a user. The eclone (10) also comprises an input authenticator and classifier (45) operable to authenticate and classify the person; a command creator (50) operable to create the command based upon a request; an output action generator (55) operable to execute the command and relay a result to any of the agents (15,20,25,30); and an activity logger (60) operable to log the request and the result. The expert system (35) is essentially a collection of rules that define how the eclone (10) reacts to each request.

Abstract: A mobile information device may execute a Java MIDlet or a non-MIDlet application. The mobile information device may further include an object-oriented application program interface that allows one or more object-oriented object classes to allow input and output data to be communicated between Java MIDlets in different MIDlet Suites and between non-MIDlet applications. The application program interface may be used to push launch applications with context on the mobile information device.

Abstract: A method for activating an alarm based on a series of error counts generated by a monitoring device, including an integrator, an accumulator, and an alarm. The integrator adjusts the error count and produces an adjusted count, which it then sends to the accumulator. The accumulator keeps a running total of the adjusted counts and can activate the alarm when the running total exceeds a predetermined alarm level. The adjustment of the error count by the integrator is accomplished by a set of formulas that use a set of variables. The values for these variables can be derived through a series of calculations or can be chosen by a user. The ability to adjust the error counts allows the user to better control the circumstances that cause activation of an alarm.