Abstract: An apparatus, system and method notifies a user of a low battery condition when the remaining battery capacity of a portable electronic device, such as a mobile station, pager, portable computer, video camera, or personal digital assistant, falls below a predetermined level and the portable electronic device is proximally located to a corresponding charging unit. The proximity of the portable electronic device to the charging unit may be detected by using geographic positioning, such as the GPS, the GLONASS or the GSM location-determining algorithms, or by monitoring a short range radio interface, such as Bluetooth or Home RF.

Abstract: A system and method for improving handoff performance of a cellular telecommunications network having a serving exchange and a serving cell in which a mobile station is engaged in a call. The system adapts a first timeout period during which signal strength measurements are collected from a plurality of cells that neighbor the serving cell. A variable timing mechanism measures time periods starting when a handoff measurement request is generated. The system then sets the variable timing mechanism to measure a specified time period for each of the plurality of cells, collects the signal strength measurements during the specified time period, and processes the signal strength measurements when the specified time period expires. The system also adapts a second timeout period during which a handoff request from the mobile station is queued while awaiting an available voice channel in a target cell for handoff.