Abstract: A mobile station and unattached work area is used with an electronic pen, which includes a transmitter, such as an acoustic transmitter. The mobile station includes a receiver that receives signals from the transmitter and orientation sensors that detect movement of the mobile station. The position of the receiver is calibrated with respect to the unattached work area. Data from the orientation sensors is received when the mobile station, and thus, the receiver is moved with respect to the work area. A transformation matrix is generated based on the data from the orientation sensors, which can be used to correct for the movement of the receiver. The position of the transmitter in the electronic pen is calculated and mapped based on received signals and the transformation matrix and the mapped position is then displayed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for saving power by a personal area network (PAN) coordinator and a device are described herein. A PAN coordinator is provided to form a wireless PAN with one or more of the devices. Further, the PAN coordinator and the devices enter sleep states to save power. The wireless PAN is available when the PAN coordinator enters an active state.

Abstract: An acoustic system, which may be ultrasonic, operates in a power efficient idle mode thereby reducing the power consumption required by high frequency sampling and processing. While in idle mode, an acoustic receiver device operates with an idle sampling rate that is lower than the full sampling rate used during full operational mode, but is capable of receiving a wake-up signal from the associated acoustic transmitter. When the wake-up signal is received, the acoustic receiver switches to full operational mode by increasing the sampling rate and enables full processing. The acoustic system may be used in, e.g., an ultrasonic pointing device, location beacons, in peer-to-peer communications between devices, as well as gesture detection.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for tracking various assets. The apparatus includes a hybrid tracking device (HTD) for tracking an associated asset. The HTD includes a personal area network (PAN) transceiver to couple the HTD to a gateway, proxy or slave HTDs. The HTD may include a sensor to generate sensor information. Alternatively, the sensor information is generated remotely. The sensor information includes a determined location and/or information characteristic of an HTD or its environment. Sensor information from one sensor is used to represent HTDs separated by the PAN. The HTD may also include a wide area network (WAN) transceiver to communicate with an asset tracking server.

Abstract: A hybrid input device is described. The hybrid input device includes a stylus for writing on a touchscreen, a writing instrument and a pressure sensor. The hybrid input device also includes an ultrasonic transmitter that transmits an ultrasonic data pattern. The hybrid input device also includes a control element that toggles ultrasonic functionality of the hybrid input device.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods to establish and share resources over a personal area network are provided. The units sharing similar functions or common applications are connected by a personal area network such as a low-power radio frequency network such as a ZIGBEE® network such that a selected one of the units sharing the functions or applications runs the application or function for each of the connected units. the similar function or common applications may include, for example, location determinations, data transmission, or the like. The selection of the one unit to run the application may be based on battery charge, processor capacity, or the like.

Abstract: Systems and methods for saving power by a personal area network (PAN) coordinator are described herein. A PAN coordinator is provided to form a wireless PAN with one or more devices. Further, the PAN coordinator enters a sleep state to save power. The wireless PAN is available when the PAN coordinator enters an active state.

Abstract: A hybrid input device is described. The hybrid input device includes a stylus for writing on a touchscreen, a writing instrument and a pressure sensor. The hybrid input device also includes an ultrasonic transmitter that transmits an ultrasonic data pattern. The hybrid input device also includes a control element that toggles ultrasonic functionality of the hybrid input device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for saving power by a personal area network (PAN) coordinator and a device are described herein. A PAN coordinator is provided to form a wireless PAN with one or more of the devices. Further, the PAN coordinator and the devices enter sleep states to save power. The wireless PAN is available when the PAN coordinator enters an active state.

Abstract: Positions in a region serviced by a short range wireless network are established by defining a grid for the region. The grid is divided into a plurality of cells having a predetermined size. A plurality of static nodes can be placed in the cells. A network identifier that is associated with a standard protocol for the network is assigned to each of the static nodes. The identifier is assigned so as to identify the node and to represent a set of X, Y coordinates associated the cell where static node is located. The X,Y coordinate are assigned to the identifier without deviating from the standard protocol. The identifier is periodically broadcast from the static nodes. A cell of the grid within which a mobile node is located is estimated based on the identifier and an additional parameter received from one of the static nodes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus facilitating access to a communication session for a client is provided. The method may comprise obtaining one or more call plan proposals, receiving a destination phone number for making a call on a wireless communications device (WCD) when the WCD is in a source country, determining the source country from which the call is to be made, determining a destination country code of the destination phone number, identifying each of the one or more call plan proposals available to the WCD in the source country, selecting a call plan proposal from the identified available call plan proposals, generating a destination number string, and executing the call using the destination number string. The destination number string can comprise the destination phone number combined with the destination country code and the country access code and the discount identifier code of the selected call plan proposal.

Abstract: An acoustic system, which may be ultrasonic, operates in a power efficient idle mode thereby reducing the power consumption required by high frequency sampling and processing. While in idle mode, an acoustic receiver device operates with an idle sampling rate that is lower than the full sampling rate used during full operational mode, but is capable of receiving a wake-up signal from the associated acoustic transmitter. When the wake-up signal is received, the acoustic receiver switches to full operational mode by increasing the sampling rate and enables full processing. The acoustic system may be used in, e.g., an ultrasonic pointing device, location beacons, in peer-to-peer communications between devices, as well as gesture detection.

Abstract: A mobile station and unattached work area is used with an electronic pen, which includes a transmitter, such as an acoustic transmitter. The mobile station includes a receiver that receives signals from the transmitter and orientation sensors that detect movement of the mobile station. The position of the receiver is calibrated with respect to the unattached work area. Data from the orientation sensors is received when the mobile station, and thus, the receiver is moved with respect to the work area. A transformation matrix is generated based on the data from the orientation sensors, which can be used to correct for the movement of the receiver. The position of the transmitter in the electronic pen is calculated and mapped based on received signals and the transformation matrix and the mapped position is then displayed.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for tracking various assets. The apparatus includes a hybrid tracking device (HTD) for tracking an associated asset. The HTD includes a personal area network (PAN) transceiver to couple the HTD to a gateway, proxy or slave HTDs. The HTD may include a sensor to generate sensor information. Alternatively, the sensor information is generated remotely. The sensor information includes a determined location and/or information characteristic of an HTD or its environment. Sensor information from one sensor is used to represent HTDs separated by the PAN. The HTD may also include a wide area network (WAN) transceiver to communicate with an asset tracking server.

Abstract: A method for transmitting signals, consisting of receiving a plurality of signals generated in an isolated region, the signals encoding respective individual payloads and payload envelopes. At least two of the signals operate under different protocols. The method includes deriving information from the signals on respective connections of the signals, and aggregating the payloads into one or more aggregated payloads. The method further includes transmitting the one or more aggregated payloads and the information via a satellite link to a receiver outside the region, the one or more aggregated payloads and the information amounting to less data than an aggregated amount of data in the individual payloads and payload envelopes. The method also includes reconstituting the plurality of signals at the receiver using the one or more aggregated payloads and the information.

Abstract: Handoff between a wireless SIP network and a cellular communication system is provided. A system is designed to provide nomadic cellular services including voice to a SIP-enabled device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus facilitating access to a communication session for a client is provided. The method may comprise obtaining one or more call plan proposals, receiving a destination phone number for making a call on a wireless communications device (WCD) when the WCD is in a source country, determining the source country from which the call is to be made, determining a destination country code of the destination phone number, identifying each of the one or more call plan proposals available to the WCD in the source country, selecting a call plan proposal from the identified available call plan proposals, generating a destination number string, and executing the call using the destination number string. The destination number string can comprise the destination phone number combined with the destination country code and the country access code and the discount identifier code of the selected call plan proposal.

Abstract: Positions in a region serviced by a short range wireless network are established by defining a grid for the region. The grid is divided into a plurality of cells having a predetermined size. A plurality of static nodes can be placed in the cells. A network identifier that is associated with a standard protocol for the network is assigned to each of the static nodes. The identifier is assigned so as to identify the node and to represent a set of X, Y coordinates associated the cell where static node is located. The X,Y coordinate are assigned to the identifier without deviating from the standard protocol. The identifier is periodically broadcast from the static nodes. A cell of the grid within which a mobile node is located is estimated based on the identifier and an additional parameter received from one of the static nodes.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods to establish and share resources over a personal area network are provided. The units sharing similar functions or common applications are connected by a personal area network such as a ZigBee network such that a selected one of the units sharing the functions or applications runs the application or function for each of the connected units. the similar function or common applications may include, for example, location determinations, data transmission, or the like. The selection of the one unit to run the application may be based on battery charge, processor capacity, or the like.

Abstract: A method for transmitting signals, consisting of receiving a plurality of signals generated in an isolated region, the signals encoding respective individual payloads and payload envelopes. At least two of the signals operate under different protocols. The method includes deriving information from the signals on respective connections of the signals, and aggregating the payloads into one or more aggregated payloads. The method further includes transmitting the one or more aggregated payloads and the information via a satellite link to a receiver outside the region, the one or more aggregated payloads and the information amounting to less data than an aggregated amount of data in the individual payloads and payload envelopes. The method also includes reconstituting the plurality of signals at the receiver using the one or more aggregated payloads and the information.