Abstract: Ad content for display on a display of a wireless telephone is loaded onto the phone, e.g., at the time of manufacture or distribution, or later after initial sale of the phone. The phone memory also includes software features by which the user of the phone can access specific ad content. The ad content includes information, e.g., a coupon or bar code, for presentation to a merchant on the display of the phone at the point of sale of a product or service promoted in the ad.

Abstract: A method and system for managing communications in a packet-based real-time media conference. A conference server determines whether a given conference session should operate in half-duplex mode or in full-duplex mode, and the server instructs at least one participating station accordingly. In the half-duplex mode of operation, for instance, a station may engage in an implicit floor control process, in which the station treats an incoming media stream as an implicit floor denial. On the other hand, in the full-duplex mode of operation, a station would not treat an incoming stream as an implicit floor denial.

Abstract: Methods and systems for reducing communication session establishment latency are introduced. In a wireless communication network, a radio access network (RAN) determines that a wireless communication device (WCD), such as a mobile phone, is attempting to establish a communication session. Based on the quality-of-service sensitivity of the communication session as well as recent reports of wireless coverage quality received from the WCD, the RAN selects an appropriate timeout value. This selected timeout value is used for a timer associated with a communication session establishment message transmitted by the RAN to the WCD. As a result, the RAN can retransmit the communication session establishment message rapidly in situations where the communication session establishment message is more likely to be lost.

Abstract: Method and improvements for joining wireless mesh networks are provided. In one embodiment, a controller in each network receives a message from a node in its respective network, the message indicating that the respective nodes each received a signal from a node in the other network. Each controller, in response to receiving the respective messages, validates the other network, and responsively (a) directs its respective node to enter a bridging mode and (b) provides its respective node with bridging data that includes a security key for communications between the two nodes. The two nodes then associate with each other using the security key, allowing communications to pass between the two wireless mesh networks.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for masquerading the identity of a first communication device returning a missed call placed by a second communication device to a third communication device. The first communication device receives a missed call notification indicating the second communication device placed a first call to the third communication device. Thereafter, the first communication device initiates a second call to the second communication device and directs a network to deliver to the second communication device caller identification information that indicates the second call originates from the third communication device. Moreover, the first communication device may include a missed call log that includes missed call notifications for missed calls placed directly to the first communication device as well as missed call notifications for missed calls originally placed to another communication device. The first communication device can present to a user missed call notifications stored in the missed call log.

Abstract: After a call with a called party ends, a caller is provided with prompts or messages which allow the caller to control ringback media content which is to be rendered when the caller calls the called party in the future. For example, the caller is provided with prompts by which they can select ringback content from content they already have purchased and apply it to the called party number. Alternatively, the caller is linked to a content provider where they can purchase additional content and have it applied to the called party number. Thus, the caller is able to exert control over ringback media.

Abstract: A method for distributing a digital motion picture to multiple theaters in a region via terrestrial wireless communication. The motion picture is divided into chunks, and the chunks are transmitted to particular initial seed theaters in the region. To facilitate the initial seeding, downlink bandwidth on various wireless links is dynamically increased. Once the initial seeding is complete, the downlink bandwidth is decreased and is preferably equalized substantially with uplink bandwidth. The theaters in the region are then directed to begin peer-to-peer sharing of the chunks with each other, possibly through use of BitTorrent or other cooperative downloading process from the initial seed theaters. Ultimately, all of the theaters in the region thereby obtain all of the chunks of the motion picture and can conveniently present the motion picture to audiences.

Abstract: A method for communicating location to an emergency service system. A wireless communication device (WCD) such as a cell phone attains a GPS location fix when outdoors and then uses a compass and pedometer to determine its direction(s) and distance(s) of travel reaching a position inside a building. When a user of the WCD places an emergency call, the WCD conveys an indication of its indoor location in a signaling message to an emergency service center, and an intermediation system such as an IMS system translates the indoor location indication to a textual description of a portion of the building (e.g., room, cubicle, zone, etc.) that encompasses the indicated location. An emergency service operator can thus receive the building portion description, to facilitate emergency service response. Further, a similar process can then be repeated during the call, to provide an updated building portion description to the operator.

Abstract: A gateway receives network presence information regarding a mobile station. The network presence information is based, at least in part, on status messages that a network access server, such as a packet data serving node (PDSN), sends, for example, to an accounting server. The network presence information identifies the mobile station, such as by Internet Protocol (IP) address, network access identifier (NAI), and/or mobile directory number (MDN). When the gateway receives a request from a mobile station to access a content server, e.g., an HTTP GET request, the gateway inserts identifying information, such as NAI and/or MDN, into the request to identify the mobile station to the content server.

Abstract: A method and system for configuring one or more prospective-participant nodes as participant nodes so as to enable the prospective-participant nodes to engage in a peer-to-peer communication is provided. In one exemplary embodiment, the method and system may be embodied as a common application that includes logic, in hardware or software form, for carrying out one or more of the functions for configuring one or more prospective-participant nodes as a participant node in a peer-to-peer network. In carrying out these functions, one of the participant nodes discovers its network-connection settings, and based on these settings, generates participant-node-configuration data that includes one or more network connection settings that define how to address the prospective-participant node as a participant node.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for selecting one or more capsules in which to include a traffic channel assignment message. The method may be carried out in a wireless communication network that provides wireless service in a coverage area, wherein the coverage area comprises a plurality of sectors, wherein a control channel is provided in each sector, and wherein the wireless communication network is configured to transmit synchronous capsules and asynchronous capsules in each control channel.

Abstract: A method for communicating location to an emergency service system. A wireless communication device (WCD) such as a cell phone attains a GPS location fix when outdoors and then uses a compass and pedometer to determine its direction(s) and distance(s) of travel reaching a position inside a building. When a user of the WCD places an emergency call, the WCD conveys an indication of its indoor location in a signaling message to an emergency service center, and an intermediation system such as an IMS system translates the indoor location indication to a textual description of a portion of the building (e.g., room, cubicle, zone, etc.) that encompasses the indicated location. An emergency service operator can thus receive the building portion description, to facilitate emergency service response. Further, a similar process can then be repeated during the call, to provide an updated building portion description to the operator.

Abstract: A method for use of voice call restriction data to restrict mailbox-to-mailbox message transfers. When a subscriber logs into his or her voice mail box and seeks to send a voice mail message to another subscriber's voice mail box, reference will be made to voice call restriction data that indicates whether voice calls are allowed between the subscriber and the other subscriber. If the voice call restriction data indicates that voice calls are allowed between the subscribers, then the voice mail system will allow the requested mailbox-to-mailbox message transfer. On the other hand, if the voice call restriction data indicates that voice calls are not allowed between the subscribers, then the voice mail system will not allow the mailbox-to-mailbox message transfer.

Abstract: To facilitate vertical handoff, a radio network will identify air interface protocols currently available for use by a wireless device and will then select one of the available air interface protocols based at least in part on the type of communication in which the device is currently engaged. The radio network may further take into consideration the current level of congestion under each available air interface protocol and may select an air interface protocol that has sufficient bandwidth available to support the type of communication in which the device is currently engaged. If the device is not currently operating under the selected air interface protocol, the radio network may then orchestrate a vertical handoff to the selected protocol.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for using phase shift to determine valid neighbors in a wireless communication system. A phase difference, measured at an access terminal, between an expected phase and an observed phase of a pilot signal from a given wireless service site is used to determine a differential distance. The differential distance corresponds to a difference between (i) the distance from the access terminal to the given wireless service site and (ii) the distance from the access terminal to a serving wireless service site. The expected phase is taken to be that of a known neighbor site of the access terminal, based on a postulation that the given site is the neighbor site. Upon a determination that the differential distance does not exceed a threshold distance, the given wireless service site is confirmed as being the neighbor site.

Abstract: A mechanism for dynamically setting paging transmission power for a given mobile station based on the mobile station's paging slot frequency. For a mobile station that is set to operate at a higher paging slot frequency (e.g., lower slot cycle index), a wireless serving network transmits a page message to the mobile station at a higher power level, in order to increase the likelihood that the mobile station will successfully receive the page message. On the other hand, for a mobile station that is set to operate at a lower paging slot frequency (e.g., a higher slot cycle index), the network transmits a page message at a lower power level.

Abstract: Users of the system are each provided with an indicator module capable of presenting a display. An authorization module keeps track of which users are authorized to access a facility, such as a secured area or a parking facility. The authorization module sends messages, such as SMS messages, to the authorized indicator modules directing them to present a common valid display. The common valid display changes repeatedly over time, but, at any one time, the modules of authorized users all present the same display. A user may be granted or denied access based on whether the display on his module is the same as that of known authorized modules.

Abstract: A wireless telephone includes one or more keys incorporating a programmable display. The display may display an image file (e.g., a photo of a parent or friend), such as a photo captured by a camera incorporated into the telephone. The image file may be displayed directly on the key or it may be cropped or downsampled as appropriate. The user interface allows the user to program the key to dial a particular telephone number. In one embodiment, during a multi-party conference call the keys display images of the conference call participants. The participant currently speaking can be displayed on a main display of the phone. When the conference call is over, the key displays revert back to their previous display state.

Abstract: A method and system for distributing data from one or more main data sources to one or more consumer nodes. An abstract data matrix layer is provided between a producer layer and a consumer layer. A producer node multicasts data updates to selected data matrix nodes in the data matrix layer, and a consumer node registers with the data matrix layer to receive designated data updates. One or more data matrix nodes then serve the requested data updates on the requesting consumer node.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for verifying network credentials. To accomplish the invention, a network intermediary, located in a communication path between a client device and a content server, receives from the client device a request for content directed to the content server, wherein the request includes a device identifier and a password. The network intermediary responsively looks up a user identifier associated with the device identifier, modifies the request to include the user identifier, and then sends the modified request along to the content server. The content server receives the request and determines whether a combination of the device identifier and the user identifier exists within a dataset of known combinations. If it exists, the content server may validate the request by reference to the password. If not, the content server adds the combination to the dataset and requests a new password from the user.