Abstract: According to a first embodiment of the invention, if an e-mail sender attempts to make too many connections within a predetermined period of time, the excess connections are automatically rejected. According to a second embodiment of the invention, an agreement is established between an e-mail sender and an e-mail recipient that states when the sender may send e-mail messages to the recipient. According to a third embodiment of the invention, trend data reflecting an amount of e-mail sent by a sender is collected. The trend data can be used to establish a rate limit for the sender. According to a fourth embodiment of the invention, separate rate limits are established for authenticated and unauthenticated mail from addresses. According to a fifth embodiment of the invention, a sender may have a rate at which their e-mail is transmitted reduced if they exceed predetermined rate limits.

Abstract: This invention concerns a process and a system for providing location information for a wireless unit in a wireless network to a location-based service provider, using a data network. In particular, the location information is provided to the location-based service provider without necessarily providing the identity of wireless unit, e.g., a subscriber's wireless identification number, to the service provider. In this regard, a subscriber's identification number may be hidden from the positioning service provider via a process in which an alias is used instead of the subscriber's normal identity. The subscriber's number may further be concealed from the service provider via a process wherein encrypted information is used instead of the subscriber's normal identity.

Abstract: This invention concerns a process and a system for providing location information for a wireless unit in a wireless network to a location-based service provider, using a data network. In particular, the location information is provided to the location-based service provider without necessarily providing the identity of wireless unit, e.g., a subscriber's wireless identification number, to the service provider. In this regard, a subscriber's identification number may be hidden from the positioning service provider via a process in which an alias is used instead of the subscriber's normal identity. The subscriber's number may further be concealed from the service provider via a process wherein encrypted information is used instead of the subscriber's normal identity.

Abstract: A technique for controlling the streaming of content through a network is disclosed. The technique involves changing the rate at which content chunks are sent from an intermediate network device in order to cause a client to request content chunks that are encoded at a different bit rate. For example, an intermediate network device can reduce the rate at which content chunks are sent to a client in order to cause the client to adapt to the reduced flow rate by requesting content chunks that are encoded at a lower bit rate. Causing a client to request content chunks that are encoded at a lower bit rate can reduce the bandwidth demand in a wireless communications network.

Abstract: A method for controlling network congestion includes estimating a queue size, entering a first mode of operation if the estimated queue size is below a first threshold, and entering a second mode of operation if the estimated queue size is above a second threshold.

Abstract: According to a first embodiment of the invention, if an e-mail sender attempts to make too many connections within a predetermined period of time, the excess connections are automatically rejected. According to a second embodiment of the invention, an agreement is established between an e-mail sender and an e-mail recipient that states when the sender may send e-mail messages to the recipient. According to a third embodiment of the invention, trend data reflecting an amount of e-mail sent by a sender is collected. The trend data can be used to establish a rate limit for the sender. According to a fourth embodiment of the invention, separate rate limits are established for authenticated and unauthenticated mail from addresses. According to a fifth embodiment of the invention, a sender may have a rate at which their e-mail is transmitted reduced if they exceed predetermined rate limits.

Abstract: A group of wireless device users are notified of an event. A location data determination algorithm is provided to a wireless device, where the algorithm determines a frequency at which the device interacts with network elements to determine its location. The location data is stored in a notification server and used to identify a user at a specific location. When a governmental or commercial entity wishes to issue a notification, a message is provided to those users whose location is identified as being in an area defined by the entity.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method for controlling the operation of a service in a client device. The invention uses an existing protocol which is used for communications between an application resident in the device and a remote server to convey information about the service to the application. The information may be relevant to a service specific function, such as configuration or provisioning, or an activation or de-activation instruction, for example. The application receives the service related information, processes the information and then provides the information to the service via a notification channel. The service related information may be incorporated into a message sent from the remote server to the client device by using an element of the protocol, for example, by appending a text string to a header.

Abstract: A unified messaging system which can provide messaging services for a plurality of different “message types” is disclosed. The unified messaging system can serve as a single interface to a number of messaging services provided by various messaging components which use different message types (e.g., mail server). A unified message type is implemented and presented to a user as an abstract message. In addition, the unified messaging system can automatically determine, based on a first selected feature, if one or more message types should be used. A particular message type can also be automatically selected as a “best message type” based on one or more selected options.

Abstract: A system and method for automated content distribution is disclosed. A content distribution system includes a detector module for intercepting a network communication and verifying whether content is available for a client, and a notification module coupled to the detector module for notifying the client that the content is available. A method for content distribution includes intercepting a network communication, analyzing the network communication for determining whether content is available for a client, and notifying the client that the content is available.

Abstract: Embodiments of a method and system for enforcing a traffic policy at a Policy Enforcement Point (PEP) that controls the flow of traffic in a wireless communications network are described. In one embodiment, a method involves learning the topology of the wireless communications network, defining a virtual PEP (VPEP) within the topology of the wireless communications network, the VPEP comprising a location component that is remote from the PEP, associating a traffic policy with the VPEP, associating a traffic flow with the VPEP if the traffic flow has a characteristic that corresponds to the location component of the VPEP, and enforcing, at the PEP, the traffic policy that is associated with the VPEP against the traffic flow.

Abstract: A unified messaging system which can provide messaging services for a plurality of different “message types” is disclosed. The unified messaging system can serve as a single interface to a number of messaging services provided by various messaging components which use different message types (e.g., mail server). A unified message type is implemented and presented to a user as an abstract message. In addition, the unified messaging system can automatically determine, based on a first selected feature, if one or more message types should be used. A particular message type can also be automatically selected as a “best message type” based on one or more selected options.

Abstract: A system and method for providing location information for communications through an access network in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. The system and method involve receiving a communication including a message from an origination device. The communication includes access point information and the message includes an identifier of the communication. The access point information from the communication is extracted and the access point information or geographic data based on the access point information is stored in a database. The message including the identifier is sent to a destination device of the message. The storing of the access point information or the geographic data in the database enables the destination device to obtain the access point information or the geographic data using the identifier included in the message by querying the database.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling financial transactions is disclosed. A customer, using a wireless device, identifies a point of sale and the amount of a transaction at that point of sale is first communicated to a central service and then transmitted to the wireless device for display at the wireless device. The customer can either accept the transaction amount to complete the transaction or reject the amount to cancel the transaction. The customer may have to enter a password or personal identification number to verify the authorization to use the wireless financial system. The customer is billed for the transaction via credit, debit, ATM or other methods, such as the wireless carrier or an internet provider.

Abstract: A technique for controlling the streaming of content through a network is disclosed. In an embodiment, the technique involves editing the manifest file that is used to implement an HTTP adaptive bit rate streaming protocol. For example, a manifest file is received at an intermediate network device in response to a request from a client for a content element, the manifest file is then edited at the intermediate network device, and then the edited manifest file is sent to the client. In an embodiment, editing the manifest file involves deleting and/or inserting a URI within the manifest file.

Abstract: In a technique for enhancing discoverability and increasing usage of a web browser in a mobile device on a wireless network, a server system coupled to the wireless network receives a signal representing initiation of a voice call from the mobile device. In response, the server system performs a lookup to determine whether a website is associated with the telephone number being called. If a website is associated with the telephone number being called and the mobile device has the capability to access and display the website, the server system sends an Alert to the mobile device, causing the mobile device to notify its user about the website. The user may then input a selection to either access the website instead of completing the call or to proceed with the voice call.

Abstract: An example system comprises one or more base stations, each base station associated with a cell, a Channel-to-Subscriber Management Entity operable to register a channel and a plurality of subscribers to that channel, wherein each subscriber is located in at least one of the cells, and a router operable to send media content associated with the channel to the one or more base stations, wherein each base station is operable to transmit the content to the subscribers in its cell at the same time.

Abstract: An internet browsing gateway is utilized to locate mobile web content and improve search capabilities for wireless devices. Mobile browsing data is logged as web pages are requested from and returned to wireless devices associated with the same wireless network. An index server continually updates search indexes in real time as users request searches and search results are returned. As a result, the mobile content that is discovered becomes more relevant for users of the same wireless network or mobile carrier. In other words, the search results are more localized in accordance with the location of the wireless network that services the mobile users within a specific geographic region. When a web search is requested from a wireless device, the index server queries the search indexes. The search results are ranked using a search algorithm that incorporates the browsing data to improve the accuracy and relevance of searches.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling financial transactions is disclosed. A customer, using a wireless device, identifies a point of sale and the amount of a transaction at that point of sale is first communicated to a central service and then transmitted to the wireless device for display at the wireless device. The customer can either accept the transaction amount to complete the transaction or reject the amount to cancel the transaction. The customer may have to enter a password or personal identification number to verify the authorization to use the wireless financial system. The customer is billed for the transaction via credit, debit, ATM or other methods, such as the wireless carrier or an internet provider.

Abstract: A wireless telecommunications carrier operates a commerce platform in a trusted domain, which may store sensitive information associated with a consumer. During a credit card based transaction, a merchant's POS terminal sends transaction information to an acquirer. The acquirer recognizes the transaction type and responds by routing the transaction information to the commerce platform. The commerce platform validates the transaction by verifying the identity of the user. When the transaction is validated, the commerce platform notifies the acquirer, which initiates a clearing process. When the transaction clears, the acquirer notifies the commerce platform and signals the merchant's POS terminal to output a paper receipt. The commerce platform stores a digital receipt of the transaction and signals the wireless device to output a confirmation message to the consumer. The consumer's credit card number and other sensitive information may be restricted to the trusted domain, which excludes the merchant.