Abstract: A method of generating a control signal to enable or inhibit a wide variety of applications is provided. The method generally includes the steps of determining the location of a first mobile radio terminal, determining the location of a second mobile radio terminal, comparing the locations of the terminals, and generating a control signal based upon the comparison. The control signal may be generated if the first and second mobile radio terminals are within a specified distance of one another. Alternatively, the control signal may be generated if the first and second mobile radio terminals are separated by at least a specified distance from one another. Additionally, the control signal may be generated if it is determined that the first mobile radio terminal is at a first specified location and the second mobile radio terminal is at a second specified location spacially separated from the first specified location.

Abstract: A wireless headset for use with a separate communications device, such as a cellular telephone, includes automatic on/off capabilities to maximize battery life. By detecting a user's interaction, such as picking up the headset or placing it upon the user's body, the wireless headset automatically transitions from an inactive state to an active state. Techniques for automatic headset enabling include but are not limited to motion sensors, attitude or position sensors, proximity sensors, and contact sensors. These techniques may be used individually or in any combination. An internal timer allows the wireless headset to return to its inactive state a defined interval after cessation of movement or removal of the wireless headset. Including an optional sleep state further optimizes battery life. In the sleep state, only a portion of the wireless headset circuitry is enabled. Rather than transitioning from inactive to active, the headset transitions from inactive to sleep.

Abstract: A method of generating a control signal to enable or inhibit a wide variety of applications is provided. The method generally includes the steps of determining the location of a first mobile radio terminal, determining the location of a second mobile radio terminal, comparing the locations of the terminals, and generating a control signal based upon the comparison. The control signal may be generated if the first and second mobile radio terminals are within a specified distance of one another. Alternatively, the control signal may be generated if the first and second mobile radio terminals are separated by at least a specified distance from one another. Additionally, the control signal may be generated if it is determined that the first mobile radio terminal is at a first specified location and the second mobile radio terminal is at a second specified location spacially separated from the first specified location.

Abstract: Methods and systems for selectively encrypting and decrypting messages transmitted on a channel of a communication network, such as a broadcast channel, are provided. Group encryption keys are provided for one or more services utilizing the broadcast channel to communicate messages. A message associated with a particular service first receives an error check value, such as a cyclical redundancy check (CRC) value generated from the unencrypted message. The message is then encrypted using the group encryption key for the service and the CRC is added to the encrypted message and transmitted with a broadcast address of the communication network. A receiver then receives the message and determines that the CRC indicates an error (as it is generated from the encrypted message rather than the unencrypted message). The receiver then decrypts the message using the group encryption key for the service (assuming the receiver is authorized to receive the service, i.e.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the position of a mobile terminal using either an internal positioning system, such as a GPS receiver, or an external positioning system such as an external cellular positioning system. A handoff procedure is used to decide which positioning system is used to calculate the position of the mobile terminal. In one embodiment, the internal positioning system is preferred and the mobile terminal switches to the external positioning system only when the internal system is unavailable, and switches back when the internal system is functioning properly. Alternatively, the external positioning system is preferred and when it is unavailable the mobile terminal switches to the internal positioning system, but switches back to the external system when it is available. In one embodiment, the mobile terminal includes the internal positioning system, a transceiver, and a mobile terminal position controller.

Abstract: Embodiments of methods, communication devices, communication systems, and computer program products may facilitate communication of information via a frame-check sequence that has an information block associated therewith. For example, one or more information blocks may be provided and respectively associated with one or more information block frame-check sequences. A message for transmission may be provided and a message frame-check sequence may be computed based on the message. One of the information blocks may also be selected for transmission along with the message. Rather than constructing a packet that includes both the selected information block and the message, however, the information block frame-check sequence that is associated with the selected information block is added to the message frame-check sequence to compute a transmit frame-check sequence. A packet comprising the message and the transmit frame-check sequence may then be transmitted.

Abstract: A mobile communications device includes at least two receivers and a memory module. The power consumption of the mobile communications device is controlled by selectively awakening and sleeping the receivers as needed to ensure that the desired quality of reception to check the control channel for messages from an associated base station and to handle incoming communications is maintained. The mobile communications device may operate in single receiver mode or dual receiver diversity mode. In the dual receiver diversity mode, the mobile communications device may switch between one of a number of diversity combining techniques based on the quality of reception.

Abstract: A flexible method of error coding uses at least two generating polynomials to provide different degrees of error protection and to optionally superimpose a phantom channel on a primary channel, without the need for explicit signaling from transmitter to receiver. An encoded message is CRC decoded the on the receive side with at least two different generating polynomials. Based on the results of the twin decoding, the present method can determine which of the generating polynomials was used to encode the message and respond accordingly. For instance, if the a particular generating polynomial was used, then this may be use to indicate that a second channel has been superimposed onto the primary channel and that second channel may be extracted. On the other hand, if another generating polynomial, such as the default generating polynomial, was used, this may be used to indicate that no second channel has been superimposed.

Abstract: A security system for a cellular telephone for controlling the status of security features based on location. The invention includes at least one security feature within the cellular telephone that is activated by a triggering event. A memory unit is positioned within the cellular telephone for entering safe zone coordinates. A locator either positioned within, or accessible by, the cellular phone provides for determining the geographic location of the phone. The system compares the present location of the cellular phone with the safe zones maintained in memory. When the triggering event occurs, at least one of the security features is disabled when the cellular phone is within the safe zone coordinates. The security features are maintained enabled when the cellular telephone is outside the safe zone coordinates.

Abstract: A vehicle mounted communication system comprises a hand held mobile phone and a hands-free unit. The hand-held unit includes a wide area transceiver for station outside of the vehicle and a short-range radio transceiver the hands-free unit includes a microphone and speaker and is mounted in a fixed location in the vehicle. A short range radio link operatively connects the hand-held unit and the hands-free unit to enable voice and data signals to be exchanged between the hand-held unit and the hands-free unit. The hands-free unit may include a programmable memory unit to store a user table containing user identification data and configuration data. The hands-free unit control logic configures the hands-free unit based on the user identification received from the hand-held unit, thus allowing multiple users to have their preferences recognized by an individual hands-free unit.

Abstract: A radiotelephone includes a base unit mounted within the vehicle having a wide area transceiver for communicating with a station outside the vehicle, a control unit disposed in the vehicle remotely from the base unit, and a local area network for establishing a communication link between the base unit and the control unit. The local area network is adapted to transmit control and data signals between the base unit and the control unit. The control unit includes a keypad for entering commands and data that are transmitted to the base unit via the local area network, and a display for displaying information to the user. The control unit may also include a speaker and microphone. Alternatively, the speaker and microphone may be contained in a remote audio unit that is linked to the base unit via the local area network. The control unit may, for example, be incorporated into the steering wheel of a vehicle while the base unit is concealed in the trunk or under the seat of the vehicle.

Abstract: A positioning system locates a mobile unit by compensating for component tolerances in time-of-arrivals of received signals at a plurality of positioning radio receivers. The system determines detection times of the received radio signals at the positioning radio receivers. The system takes into account pre-stored signal delays associated with one or more receiver stages of the corresponding positioning radio receivers and the detection times, for determining time-of-arrivals for the received radio signals.

Abstract: A security system for a cellular telephone for controlling the status of security features based on location. The invention includes at least one security feature within the cellular telephone that is activated by a triggering event. A memory unit is positioned within the cellular telephone for entering safe zone coordinates. A locator either positioned within, or accessible by, the cellular phone provides for determining the geographic location of the phone. The system compares the present location of the cellular phone with the safe zones maintained in memory. When the triggering event occurs, at least one of the security features is disabled when the cellular phone is within the safe zone coordinates. The security features are maintained enabled when the cellular telephone is outside the safe zone coordinates.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products are discussed for authenticating a message. A first random number may be generated at a first station according to a predetermined random number generation algorithm and the first random number may be used to construct a first security field. The first security field may be encrypted to create a first digital signature and the first digital signature may be appended to the message to create a packet. The packet, including the message and the first digital signature, may be transmitted from the first station and received at a second station. A second random number may be generated at the second station according to the predetermined random number generation algorithm. A second security field may be constructed at the second station that includes the second random number. Finally, the second security field, including the second random number, may be compared to the first digital signature.

Abstract: A flexible method of error coding uses at least two generating polynomials to provide different degrees of error protection and to optionally superimpose a phantom channel on a primary channel, without the need for explicit signaling from transmitter to receiver. An encoded message is CRC decoded the on the receive side with at least two different generating polynomials. Based on the results of the twin decoding, the present method can determine which of the generating polynomials was used to encode the message and respond accordingly. For instance, if the a particular generating polynomial was used, then this may be use to indicate that a second channel has been superimposed onto the primary channel and that second channel may be extracted. On the other hand, it another generating polynomial, such as the default generating polynomial, was used, this may be used to indicate that no second channel has been superimposed.

Abstract: A keyless entry system for a vehicle comprises a portable remote unit and a vehicle-mounted base unit supporting two-way communications. The remote unit includes a first transceiver and a control and is operative to transmit a command signal to the base unit in response to actuation of the control by a user. The base unit comprises a second transceiver and a control circuit, which controls a function in a vehicle. The base unit outputs control signals to control a vehicle function in response to receipt of commands from the remote unit. The base unit also transmits an acknowledgement signal to the remote unit responsive to the command signal.

Abstract: A telephone having call-screening capabilities includes a memory for storing call-screening data. The call-screening data is used by the telephone to screen incoming calls. Incoming calls can be accepted, rejected, or diverted based on the call-screening data stored in memory. The call-screening data is automatically updated when a call is made to a previously screened number provided that certain predetermined conditions are satisfied, so that calls can be received from the previously screened number. Updates may be made, for example, when the call to the previously screened number is unanswered, when it is diverted to a recording device, or when the call is made to a number from which a previously screened call was made. The phone can be programmed so that updates automatically expire after a predetermined time period has elapsed.

Abstract: A flexible method of error coding uses at least two generating polynomials to provide different degrees of error protection and to optionally superimpose a phantom channel on a primary channel, without the need for explicit signaling from transmitter to receiver. An encoded message is CRC decoded on the receive side with at least two different generating polynomials. Based on the results of the twin decoding, the present method can determine which of the generating polynomials was used to encode the message and respond accordingly. For instance, if a particular generating polynomial was used, then this may indicate that a second channel has been superimposed onto the primary channel and that second channel may be extracted. On the other hand, if another generating polynomial, such as the default generating polynomial, was used, this may be used to indicate that no second channel has been superimposed.

Abstract: A keyless entry system for a vehicle comprises a portable remote unit and a vehicle-mounted base unit supporting two-way communications. The remote unit includes a first transceiver and a control and is operative to transmit a command signal to the base unit in response to actuation of the control by a user. The base unit comprises a second transceiver and a control circuit, which controls a function in a vehicle. The base unit outputs control signals to control a vehicle function in response to receipt of commands from the remote unit. The base unit also transmits an acknowledgement signal to the remote unit responsive to the command signal.

Abstract: A mobile communication device, such as a cellular telephone, determines its current location and compares the current location to one or more target locations stored in a target location memory. When the current location of the mobile communication terminal is within one of the target locations in memory, the mobile communication terminal annunciates its arrival by generating an audible alarm, or displays or transmits a predetermined arrival message associated with the target location. In one embodiment of the invention, target location data is determined entered manually via a keypad. In another embodiment, the target location data is obtained from a positioning receiver or a server connected to the communications network and loaded into the target location memory.