Abstract: A portal server keeps a record of the availability of portlets. When a client node sends a request for a portal page, the portal server checks the record to determine whether portlets in the portal page are available. If a portlet is unavailable, the portal server sends a portal page with a substitute portlet without requiring the client node to wait for unavailable portlets. The substitute portlet may notify the user that the requested portlet is delayed, and/or it may provide the user with an option to attempt to reload the portlet or to be notified—for example by email—when the portlet is available.

Abstract: A method and system for providing services in communications networks. A gateway layer determines information about a communication session and responsively sends a signaling message to a session manager, providing the information. The session manager may then send a signaling message to a service agent, also providing the information. The service agent may in turn apply a set of service logic based at least in part on the information, so as to derive a service treatment, and the service agent may send a signaling message so as to cause an enforcement engine (such as the gateway or session manager) to carry out the service treatment. Advantageously, this arrangement may facilitate imposition of services across various types of communication sessions (such as voice sessions and/or data sessions) and access networks (such as circuit-switched and/or packet-switched), at session initiation and during the course of an ongoing session. A variety of useful services may thereby be provided.

Abstract: Base station controlled vertical handoff is disclosed. When a hybrid access terminal is operating under a first air interface protocol (e.g., IS-2000), in a mode (e.g., active) in which the terminal does not search for the presence of wireless service under a second air interface protocol (e.g., IS-856), the terminal sends a request to a base station seeking to hand off to a wireless coverage area under the protocol. The base station then determines (e.g., by reference to the PN offset specified in the request) that the target coverage area additionally provides service under the second protocol. Responsively, the base station causes the terminal to transition to a second mode (e.g., dormant) in which the terminal does search for the presence of service under the second protocol. The terminal may thereby discover the presence of service under the second protocol and may hand off to operate under the second protocol.

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: 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: Determining RF capacity of a wireless network and measuring BTS performance. Preferred methods include collecting forward link data at a BTS transmit port, where the data includes the power level associated with each Walsh code of each sector for each carrier over a predetermined time interval, and then processing the data by identifying each channel as using either second generation CDMA technology (a “2G” call) or third-generation technology (a “3G” call). Voice and data may also be identified. The power level may be determined by measuring a signal level (e.g., dB), and subsequently accounting for any RF losses through a calibration step, and finally converting the power-per-Walsh code to an absolute power level (e.g., dBm, or watts). The average user power per link (ppl) is then determined and the number of users per technology (2G versus 3G) is also determined.

Abstract: A multi-mode mobile station includes a first interface for wireless communication with a wireless local area network (WLAN) and a second interface for wireless communication with a wireless wide area network (WWAN). The multi-mode mobile station is associated with a particular conference bridge, through which all calls to and from the multi-mode mobile station are routed. For example, when a call involving the multi-mode mobile is established via the WLAN, the call includes a WLAN call leg that extends from the conference bridge to the multi-mode mobile station via the WLAN. To effect a handoff during the call, a WWAN call leg is established between the multi-mode mobile station and the conference bridge via the WWAN. The conference bridge bridges the WLAN and WWAN call legs. To complete the handoff, the multi-mode mobile station drops the WLAN call leg and continues the call using the WWAN call leg.

Abstract: A method for monitoring performance of a message-delivery system, such as an SMS delivery system for instance. According to the method described, key performance metrics will be collected from one or more message-routers and will be monitored over time to determine when a threshold problem condition occurs with the message-delivery system. In response to detecting a threshold problem condition such as (i) a threshold measure of difference in router-input and router-output, (ii) a threshold measure of change in message-queue length, and/or (iii) a threshold measure of message delivery attempts per message, an alert will then be generated, in order to inform network administrators or systems of a potential issue and to allow prompt remedial action to be taken.

Abstract: A wireless device includes a contactless communications facility such as a contactless Integrated Circuit (IC) card to engage in a transaction with a vending machine. The wireless device obtains credential information from the vending machine and authenticates the vending machine prior to consummation of the transaction. This authentication prevents the users of the wireless devices from transmitting sensitive information (such as credit card data) to the vending machine when the vending machine is in fact a rogue vending machine; i.e., one that purports to vend legitimate products or services but rather is surreptitiously configured to steal sensitive financial information from unsuspecting users.

Abstract: A method for allocating a plurality of user licenses for simultaneous use of a software application in a wireless communication system. The method includes negotiating allocation of a single user license over a wireless connection. The single user license is allocated to a mobile device including the software application. The allocation of the single license is tracked with a used license count using an entity in the wireless communication system. The software application is run on the mobile device after allocation of the single user license. The method further includes detecting termination of the wireless connection and, responsive to that detection, starting a first timer included in the mobile device and a second timer operatively associated with the communication system entity. Operation of the software application is halted on expiration of the first timer and the used license count is decremented on the expiration of the second timer.

Abstract: Electronic devices such as mobile telephones including an alphanumeric keypad and at least one shift key and methods for using the alphanumeric keypad and the at least one shift key to display and transmit characters over a wireless network using no more than two key strokes.

Abstract: A method and system for using (i) a source profile associated with a source node, and (ii) a destination profile associated with a destination node, in combination to determine at least one modification to make to message content of a message being communicated along a communication path from the source node to the destination node, and then making the at least one modification to the message content to establish a modified message, and then sending the modified message to the destination node via the communication path.

Abstract: A method and system for selectively including a device-ID within a Mobile-IP registration request. A foreign agent, AAA server or other entity decides, based at least in part on a user-ID carried in a Mobile-IP registration request from a mobile node, whether to insert a device-ID of the mobile node into the registration request. In response to a decision to insert the device-ID, the foreign agent or another entity inserts the device-ID into the registration request and sends the request, including the device-ID, along to a Mobile-IP home agent.

Abstract: A method and system for adjusting the configuration of devices in a communications system is provided. An engineer may perform a test of the configuration of a device in a system by using a diagnostic measurement device (DMD). The engineer (or the DMD) may then establish a test result. The test result may indicate any adjustments that are necessary to the configuration of the device to optimize the configuration of the device and the system. The engineer may then cause the DMD to wirelessly send a control signal to the device's controller, causing the device's controller to make the necessary adjustments to the configuration of the device. The engineer may then verify the adjustments made by performing a second test and then possibly sending another wireless signal to the device's controller to reconfigure the device's configuration accordingly.

Abstract: A method and system for reducing latency in initiation of a real-time data session between wireless communication stations. In order to initiate a session with one or more target parties, an originating station will send a voice call origination message to a network switch, providing in the origination message (i) a session-initiation feature code and (ii) a target code indicative of the one or more target parties. The switch will then detect the session-initiation feature code as an intelligent-network trigger and responsively signal to a service controller, which will in turn signal to a communication server. The communication server will then invite the originating station and each of the one or more target parties to participate in the session, setting up a conference leg with each and bridging the legs together to allow the session to proceed.

Abstract: A method and system for dynamically delivering a voice call to a client station depending on whether the client station is currently in a mode in which it can receive data. A switch may receive a request to connect a voice call to a client station that the switch serves, and a determination may responsively be made as to whether the client station is in a mode in which it can receive data communications. If the determination is that it is not in the mode, then the switch may deliver the voice call to the client station by normal routing mechanics. On the other hand, if the determination is that it is in the mode, then the switch may re-direct the call to a circuit/packet gateway that may then extend the call as a voice-over-packet session to the client station.

Abstract: A method and system for consolidated message notification in a voice command platform. The platform maintains, for each user, a summary of counts of messages waiting for the user at multiple message portals. The platform receives update messages from the message portals, indicating updates of the counts of messages waiting, and the platform revises its summary accordingly. During a voice command session with the user, such as at the initiation of the session, the platform then presents an indication of the summary of message counts to the user, such as by sending to the user a speech signal indicating the summary.

Abstract: A method and system for setting up an emergency services call (ESC) to an emergency services network (ESN), where the method involves receiving a request to set up an ESC between a calling device and an ESN, determining whether the calling device is a fixed device or a mobile device, setting up the ESC to a wireless telephone number of the ESN if the calling device is a fixed device, and setting up the ESC to a wireless telephone number of the ESN if the calling device is a mobile device. In the case of the calling device being a fixed device, an ESC conversation is sent to the wireless telephone number of the ESN via a wireless air interface, and location determination information for determining the location of the calling device is sent to a landline signaling interface of the ESN using out-of-band signaling.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for reducing pilot pollution in a wireless communication system by systematically (i) identifying areas of sector overlap and (ii) for each area, adjusting power allocation in one or more of the overlapping sectors so as to create a dominant sector and to reduce the total noise from other sectors. A preferred embodiment of the invention involves collecting RF performance data, filtering the data to focus on areas having threshold low forward link data rate, further filtering the data to focus on areas in which the low forward link data rate is likely the result of pilot pollution, selecting a geographic region in which to make a sector power adjustment, and making a sector power adjustment in the selected region in an effort to reduce pilot pollution and increase forward link data rate. The invention is particularly advantageous in a hybrid EV-DO/1xRTT system.