Abstract: Methods and apparatus for controlling a wireless station (102) are disclosed. In an embodiment, an access point (104), or any other suitable device or system, receives a first application identifier from a first wireless station (102) at an access point (104) (e.g., receive a URL from a temperature sensor). The access point (104) then downloads and/or activates a software application to the access point (104) from a first server (106) based on the first application identifier (e.g., download a temperature measurement application based on the URL). The access point (104) issues a command to the first wireless station (102) based on the software application (e.g., send temperature measurement and sleep instructions to the temperature sensor). The access point (104) also receives first data from the first wireless station (102) (e.g., receive temperature measurements from the sensor). The access point (104) transmits the first data to at least one of the first server (106) and a second different server (106) (e.

Abstract: A wireless local area network (WLAN) provides wireless service to a collective comprising multiple remote units (RUs) by use of a collective association identifier (AID) assigned to, and shared by, the multiple RUs. The WLAN then uses the collective association identifier AID to identify transmissions of common data to the multiple remote units. Furthermore, the WLAN provides for a serving AP to store, for the collective as a whole, shared data rather than individually storing such data in association with each remote unit (RU) in the collective. The WLAN further provides for RUs to establish a link with their serving AP in order to exchange data sourced by, or intended for, their associated non-RF service provider, and for the AP then to establish a separate AP-to-service provider link to exchange the data, rather than the RU being required to establish an end-to-end link with the service provider.

Abstract: A communication system provides for an informing of participants in a Push-to-Talk over Cellular (PoC) communication session that the session is being recorded by a recording device, for a storage, by the recording device, of media that conveyed during the session, and for a subsequent retrieval of the stored media from the recording device. In various embodiments of the invention, a host of the communication session is permitted to determine whether or not the recording device is permitted access to the communication session, and the other participants in the session are able to determine whether to remain in the session when the recording device is permitted access. A user of an MS on behalf of whom the recording device is participating is then able to retrieve the stored media along with information identifying a source of the media and a time associated with the storage of the media.

Abstract: The present invention is a data network system (110) and method for responding to a communication message with a canned reply by a target user of a target client device (one of 102-108). The data network system comprises a messaging server (112) and a messaging proxy (120) coupled to the messaging server. Initially, the target client device or, more particularly, the target user, configures one or more canned replies for the system. The messaging proxy then receives (204, 304, 404) a communication message from an originating client device (another one of 102-108) and retrieves (206, 306, 406) configuration data of the target client device. Next, the messaging proxy determines (208, 308, 408) whether the target client device is available for interactive communication with the originating client device based on the configuration data.

Abstract: A notification server (100) is coupled to a database (102). The database (102) includes information relating to a user service and a threshold for notifying the user of the availability of the service. The threshold is based upon a then current location of the user and an availability of the service relative to the then current location of the user. The notification server (100) is operable to generate an alert based upon the user service, the then current location of the user and the threshold and to communicate the alert to the user via a communication interface (104).

Abstract: A wireless client (100) maintains (302) a shopping list of items desired by a shopper, and then transmits (304) the shopping list to an in-store shopping system (200). The in-store shopping system receives (306) the shopping list and then generates information identifying where to find the items and further identifying where the wireless client is positioned in the store. The in-store shopping system communicates (308) the information to the wireless client, which then displays (310) the information to the shopper.

Abstract: A notification server (100) is coupled to a database (102). The database (102) includes information relating to a user service and a threshold for notifying the user of the availability of the service. The threshold is based upon a then current location of the user and an availability of the service relative to the then current location of the user. The notification server (100) is operable to generate an alert based upon the user service, the then current location of the user and the threshold and to communicate the alert to the user via a communication interface (104).