Abstract: A computer system, a communication module and a method are provided to allow a fast reconnection of a first computer to a second computer. The invention includes a telephone modem for coupling to a telephone line. Modem protocol control software adapts the telephone modem save channel parameters and to thereby renegotiate a connection speed over a telephone line in less time than required to perform an initial line rate negotiation.

Abstract: A geographical web browser allows a user to navigate a network application such as the Word Wide Web by physically navigating in geographical coordinates. For example, a geographical web browser is implemented in a mobile unit such as a dashboard computer. The mobile unit includes one or more transducers such as antennas and is operative to receive locally broadcast signals or to operate a global positioning system (GPS) receiver. As the mobile unit navigates into different physical localities, different web pages are displayed by the geographical web browser. For example, a user desiring to buy a house can set the web browser to a real estate web page. Instead of clicking on a hyperlink to access web pages of properties in an area, the user drives into a first area and automatically receives web pages relating to homes in that area. When the mobile unit crosses town and enters a second area, a new set of web pages is downloaded relating to properties in the second area.

Abstract: A mobile unit such as a smart phone is augmented with one or more flexible-retractable peripherals in order to allow the mobile unit provide a non-area-constrained user interface to the user. For example, a smart phone provides an area-constrained and device-specific user interface to the user while the user is mobile. When the user wishes to work on desktop applications, a roller-mounted and retractable keyboard and LPD (liquid polymer display) are extended from the smart phone to provide a non-area constrained user interface. This allows a hand-held smart phone to optionally function as a laptop/desktop computer. The flexible-retractable peripherals may be built directly into the smart phone or may be implemented as stand-alone peripherals coupled to the smart phone using wired or wireless connections such as Bluetooth™ connections.

Abstract: A geographical web browser allows a user to navigate a network application such as the Word Wide Web by physically navigating in geographical coordinates. For example, a geographical web browser is implemented in a mobile unit such as a dashboard computer. The mobile unit includes one or more transducers such as antennas and is operative to receive locally broadcast signals or to operate a global positioning system (GPS) receiver. As the mobile unit navigates into different physical localities, different web pages are displayed by the geographical web browser. For example, a user desiring to buy a house can set the web browser to a real estate web page. Instead of clicking on a hyperlink to access web pages of properties in an area, the user drives into a first area and automatically receives web pages relating to homes in that area. When the mobile unit crosses town and enters a second area, a new set of web pages is downloaded relating to properties in the second area.

Abstract: A high-speed analog subscriber modem operates at speeds as high as 64 kbps in both the downlink and uplink directions using a standard POTS line augmented with an enhanced codec. This enables increased upload speeds and supports 56 kbps peer-to-peer analog subscriber connections. An enhanced network codec according to the present invention supports on a POTS line both high-speed modem communications and standard PCM speech communication. The enhanced codec of the present invention may be designed to be plug-compatible with existing codecs and may be used to upgrade POTS service to support data rates approaching 64 kbps. Similarly, the present invention may be used to increase the use of the POTS channel in a DSL system.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and business techniques are disclosed for use in mobile network communication systems. A mobile unit such as a smart phone is preferably equipped with a wireless local area network connection and a wireless wide area network connection. The local area network connection is used to establish a position-dependent ecommerce network connection with a wireless peripheral supplied by a vendor. A negotiation sequence is carried out to electronically contract the services of the negotiated wireless peripheral from the vendor. The mobile unit is then temporarily augmented with the added peripheral services supplied by the negotiated wireless peripheral. In one example, a smart phone with Internet capability is temporarily augmented with a full sized display monitor, a keyboard and a mouse so that a business user in an airport can work on desktop applications.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and business techniques are disclosed for use in mobile network communication systems. A mobile unit such as a smart phone is preferably equipped with a wireless local area network connection and a wireless wide area network connection. The local area network connection is used to establish a position-dependent ecommerce network connection with a wireless peripheral supplied by a vendor. The mobile unit is then temporarily augmented with the added peripheral services supplied by the negotiated wireless peripheral. Systems and methods allow the mobile unit to communicate securely with a remote server, even when the negotiated wireless peripheral is not fully trusted. Also mobile units, wireless user peripherals, and negotiated wireless peripherals that project a non-area constrained user interface image on a display surface are taught.