Abstract: One or more content providers push data related to: movies, movie products, digital movie content over a network (e.g., a LAN, a WAN, the Internet, or a wireless network) onto an information filling station which, in turn, wirelessly transacts (over a network based on the 802.11b protocol) and transmits any requested data to a portable computer-based device (e.g., laptop, a pen-based computer device, a PDA, a wireless phone, or a pager). The portable device performs financial transactions for: purchasing movie tickets (directly or via auctions), downloading digital entertainment content of interest (e.g., copy of a movie of interest, copy of a movie identified based on a pre-stored profile, copy of soundtrack of a movie of interest), or movie related products. Any purchased digital content is either transferred wirelessly onto the portable device or, optionally, sent on a storage medium to a physical address associated with the profile.

Abstract: One or more content providers push data related to: movies, movie products, digital movie content over a network (e.g., a LAN, a WAN, the Internet, or a wireless network) onto an information filling station which, in turn, wirelessly transacts (over a network based on the 802.11b protocol) and transmits any requested data to a portable computer-based device (e.g., laptop, a pen-based computer device, a PDA, a wireless phone, or a pager). The portable device performs financial transactions for: purchasing movie tickets (directly or via auctions), downloading digital entertainment content of interest (e.g., copy of a movie of interest, copy of a movie identified based on a pre-stored profile, copy of soundtrack of a movie of interest), or movie related products. Any purchased digital content is either transferred wirelessly onto the portable device or, optionally, sent on a storage medium to a physical address associated with the profile.

Abstract: One or more content providers push data related to: movies, movie products, digital movie content over a network (e.g., a LAN, a WAN, the Internet, or a wireless network) onto an information filling station which, in turn, wirelessly transacts (over a network based on the 802.11b protocol) and transmits any requested data to a portable computer-based device (e.g., laptop, a pen-based computer device, a PDA, a wireless phone, or a pager). The portable device performs financial transactions for: purchasing movie tickets (directly or via auctions), downloading digital entertainment content of interest (e.g., copy of a movie of interest, copy of a movie identified based on a pre-stored profile, copy of soundtrack of a movie of interest), or movie related products. Any purchased digital content is either transferred wirelessly onto the portable device or, optionally, sent on a storage medium to a physical address associated with the profile.

Abstract: A method includes automatically sending a request from a wireless access point to a configuration server during a power-up procedure for the wireless access point. The method includes receiving virtual private network tunnel parameters at the wireless access point from the configuration server in response to the request. The virtual private network tunnel parameters identify an access gateway. The method also includes establishing a virtual private network tunnel between the wireless access point and the centralized access gateway during the power-up procedure based on the virtual private network tunnel parameters. The virtual private network tunnel enables the wireless access point to provide one or more wireless devices access to a wide area network.

Abstract: A technique includes jointly demodulating a desired signal and an interfering signal of a received signal in response to a carrier-to-interference ratio estimate for the received signal being below a threshold level. The jointly demodulating is based on first channel impulse response coefficients associated with the desired signal and second channel impulse response coefficients associated with the interfering signal. The technique includes determining the first channel impulse response coefficients based on a first cross-correlation function between the received signal and a training sequence of the desired signal and determining the second channel impulse response coefficients based on a second cross-correlation function between the received signal and a training sequence of the interfering signal.

Abstract: A technique includes jointly demodulating a desired signal and an interfering signal of a received signal in response to a carrier-to-interference ratio estimate for the received signal being below a threshold level. The jointly demodulating is based on first channel impulse response coefficients associated with the desired signal and second channel impulse response coefficients associated with the interfering signal. The technique includes determining the first channel impulse response coefficients based on a first cross-correlation function between the received signal and a training sequence of the desired signal and determining the second channel impulse response coefficients based on a second cross-correlation function between the received signal and a training sequence of the interfering signal.

Abstract: Data content providers transfer data content (including DRM protected content) over a broadband network onto one or more information filling stations (IFSs) situated at one or more physical locations. Users are able to wirelessly communicate with the IFSs via one or more of portable devices that are operable in close proximity to the IFS. Data content requested by the portable devices include, but are not limited to: multimedia files, WWW data, real-time and interactive games, e-mail (with or without attachments), electronic newspapers, news and sports information, traffic and weather information, e-books, interactive messaging, and/or data files. Additionally, the portable devices are also capable of facilitating point-of-sale purchases and electronic funds transfers. Optionally, the IFS also forwards advertisements promoting products and services to the portable devices.

Abstract: A technique includes performing non-joint demodulation of a desired signal in response to a carrier-to-interference ratio estimate for a received signal being greater than or equal to a threshold level, the non-joint demodulating being based on first channel impulse response coefficients associated with the desired signal and second channel impulse response coefficients associated with one or more interfering signals. The technique includes determining the second channel impulse response coefficients based on a first cross-correlation function between the received signal and a training sequence of an interfering signal of the one or more interfering signals, determining the first channel impulse response coefficients based on a second cross-correlation function between the received signal and a training sequence of the interfering signal, and determining a time difference between a time value of a peak in the first cross-correlation function and a time value of a peak in the second cross-correlation function.

Abstract: Systems and methods for performing joint demodulation using a Viterbi equalizer having an adaptive total number of states are disclosed. Generally, a method includes joint demodulating a desired signal and one or more interfering signals with a Viterbi equalizer having an adaptive total number of states based on channel impulse response (CIR) coefficients associated with a desired signal and the one or more interfering signals.

Abstract: In accordance with the teachings herein, a wireless access point module having a plug and play feature and an auto-configuration engine may be used to provide substantial benefits to business owners, Internet service providers, and subscribers. The wireless access point module may have memory and a processor configured such that during “power-up” the processor reads instruction from memory and automatically creates a virtual private network (VPN) with a centralized access gateway via a network VPN server. In turn, the wireless access point module may utilize this VPN for subscriber communications.

Abstract: Systems and methods for performing joint demodulation using a Viterbi equalizer having an adaptive total number of states are disclosed. Generally, a method includes joint demodulating a desired signal and one or more interfering signals with a Viterbi equalizer having an adaptive total number of states based on channel impulse response (CIR) coefficients associated with a desired signal and the one or more interfering signals.

Abstract: Systems and methods for performing joint demodulation using a Viterbi equalizer having an adaptive total number of states are disclosed. Generally, a method includes joint demodulating a desired signal and none or more interfering signals with a Viterbi equalizer having an adaptive total number of states based on channel impulse response (CIR) coefficients associated with a desired signal and the one or more interfering signals.

Abstract: A method of communication includes receiving a request to initiate a push-to-talk/instant messaging exchange from a push-to-talk device. A determination is made in order to ascertain if an instant messaging device is available to partake in the push-to-talk/instant messaging exchange. If the instant messaging device is available, the push-to-talk device is notified that the push-to-talk/instant messaging exchange has begun. Voice packets are received from the push-to-talk device after a push to talk button is pressed and released. The voice packets from the push-to-talk device are converted to text packets. Then, the converted text packets are transmitted to the instant messaging device. The method further includes determining whether the push-to-talk device is blocked by the instant messaging device. If the push-to-talk device is not blocked, text packets are received from the instant messaging device and converted to voice packets.

Abstract: A knowledge management system and method is described. The knowledge management system and method comprises the steps of receiving a user search term from a user, searching an index for at least one identifier of an expert based upon the user search term, ranking the at least one identifier by an activity factor and a reputation factor, compiling a search result based on the ranking and transmitting the search result to the user.

Abstract: One or more content providers push data related to: movies, movie products, digital movie content over a network (e.g., a LAN, a WAN, the Internet, or a wireless network) onto an information filling station which, in turn, wirelessly transacts (over a network based on the 802.11b protocol) and transmits any requested data to a portable computer-based device (e.g., laptop, a pen-based computer device, a PDA, a wireless phone, or a pager). The portable device performs financial transactions for: purchasing movie tickets (directly or via auctions), downloading digital entertainment content of interest (e.g., copy of a movie of interest, copy of a movie identified based on a pre-stored profile, copy of soundtrack of a movie of interest), or movie related products. Any purchased digital content is either transferred wirelessly onto the portable device or, optionally, sent on a storage medium to a physical address associated with the profile.

Abstract: One or more content providers push data related to: movies, movie products, digital movie content over a network (e.g., a LAN, a WAN, the Internet, or a wireless network) onto an information filling station which, in turn, wirelessly transacts (over a network based on the 802.11b protocol) and transmits any requested data to a portable computer-based device (e.g., laptop, a pen-based computer device, a PDA, a wireless phone, or a pager). The portable device performs financial transactions for: purchasing movie tickets (directly or via auctions), downloading digital entertainment content of interest (e.g., copy of a movie of interest, copy of a movie identified based on a pre-stored profile, copy of soundtrack of a movie of interest), or movie related products. Any purchased digital content is either transferred wirelessly onto the portable device or, optionally, sent on a storage medium to a physical address associated with the profile.

Abstract: Systems and methods for performing joint demodulation using a Viterbi equalizer having an adaptive total number of states are disclosed. Generally, a method includes joint demodulating a desired signal and none or more interfering signals with a Viterbi equalizer having an adapative total number of states based on channel impulse response (CIR) coefficients associated with a desired signal ant the one or more interfering signals.

Abstract: Systems and methods for performing joint demodulation using a Viterbi equalizer having an adaptive total number of states are disclosed. Generally, a method includes joint demodulating a desired signal and none or more interfering signals with a Viterbi equalizer having an adaptive total number of states based on channel impulse response (CIR) coefficients associated with a desired signal ant the one or more interfering signals.

Abstract: A desired signal and at least one interfering signal are joint demodulated with a Viterbi equalizer having an adaptive total number of states. The total number of states is based on channel impulse response (CIR) coefficients associated with the desired signal and the at least one interfering signal.

Abstract: One or more content providers push data related to: movies, movie products, digital movie content over a network (e.g., a LAN, a WAN, the Internet, or a wireless network) onto an information filling station which, in turn, wirelessly transacts (over a network based on the 802.11b protocol) and transmits any requested data to a portable computer-based device (e.g., laptop, a pen-based computer device, a PDA, a wireless phone, or a pager). The portable device performs financial transactions for: purchasing movie tickets (directly or via auctions), downloading digital entertainment content of interest (e.g., copy of a movie of interest, copy of a movie identified based on a pre-stored profile, copy of soundtrack of a movie of interest), or movie related products. Any purchased digital content is either transferred wirelessly onto the portable device or, optionally, sent on a storage medium to a physical address associated with the profile.