Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for establishing time at a first basestation, and synchronizing the first basestation with other basestations in a cellular network. The method may be performed using a mobile (cellular communication) station that includes a satellite position system receiver. One method comprises determining a location of the mobile station, determining a time indicator that represents a time-of-day at the mobile station, wherein the time indicator is determined relative to a signal available at the first basestation, transmitting at least one of the position information and location, and transmitting the time indicator from the mobile station. The time indicator and at least one of the position information and the location are used to establish a time at the first basestation such that the first basestation is synchronized to other basestations in the cellular communication system. Other methods and apparatuses are also described for synchronizing basestations in a cellular network.

Abstract: A system for producing a contextual electronic message generally comprises a handwriting capture device, a user interface, a central processing unit, and a communications interface. The handwriting capture device is capable of receiving and capturing an electronic handwriting input. The user interface is adapted to interact with a user and is further capable of receiving a user input to initiate a processing function. The central processing unit is capable of determining the context of the handwriting input and application-specific information associated therewith, as well as process the handwriting input in accordance with the context and/or the initiated processing function. A contextual electronic message is thereby produced which may comprise a portion of the application-specific information and/or a portion of the handwriting input.

Abstract: A system for producing a contextual electronic message generally comprises a handwriting capture device, a user interface, a central processing unit, and a communications interface. The handwriting capture device is capable of receiving and capturing an electronic handwriting input. The user interface is adapted to interact with a user and is further capable of receiving a user input to initiate a processing function. The central processing unit is capable of determining the context of the handwriting input and application-specific information associated therewith, as well as process the handwriting input in accordance with the context and/or the initiated processing function. A contextual electronic message is thereby produced which may comprise a portion of the application-specific information and/or a portion of the handwriting input.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for synchronizing basestations in a cellular network. One exemplary method performs time synchronization between at least two basestations, a first basestation and a second basestation, of a cellular communication system. In this exemplary method, a first time-of-day and a first geographical location of a first mobile cellular receiver station (MS) are determined from a first satellite positioning system (SPS) receiver which is co-located with the first MS, and the first time-of-day and first location are transmitted by the first MS to a first basestation which determines a time-of-day of the first basestation from the first time-of-day and first location and from a known location of the first basestation.

Abstract: A wireless communications system supports affinity groups of like minded individuals who wish to know locations of other members of the affinity group. The system supports members of the affinity group querying, through a mobile terminal for the location of a remote member of the affinity group as sensed by the remote member's mobile terminal. Rather than report raw geocoordinates, location place-name descriptions are defined by the members of the affinity group and shared amongst one another. Additionally, situational alarms may be generated in the event certain user defined criteria are met, such as two remote members of the affinity group being in close proximity to one another.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for determining a position of a mobile terminal that includes a satellite radiotelephone and a global positioning system (GPS) receiver based on knowledge of the position of the communication satellite spot-beam in which the mobile terminal is located. Using knowledge of the location of the communication satellite spot-beam, the present invention can resolve the one-millisecond ambiguity, that typically arises from the code repeat length where relative code phase may be determined but absolute code phase (i.e. one millisecond increments) could be off by one or more code periods. The spot-beam identifier is obtained from the satellite communication system and used to determine the geographic location of the spot-beam. Trial positions, i.e., candidate mobile terminal positions, are then selected to cover the spot-beam area, with spacing between trial positions provided to account for the one-millisecond ambiguity.

Abstract: A wireless telephone having a wireless communication transceiver, a global positioning system (GPS) receiver, and a controller connected to both the wireless communication transceiver and the GPS receiver, wherein the controller intelligently adapts its GPS data maintenance schedule according to a unique set of indicators derived from the wireless telephone's operating conditions.