Abstract: A system (160) and method (400) is provided for validating a location of a tracking device. The method can include monitoring (902) a set of signal strengths (600) to one or more personal area networks (104) and one or more cellular towers (110), generating (906) a Radio Frequency Time Profile RFTP (700) from the set of signal strengths, comparing (908) the RFTP o coverage variation limits (720) of one or more pre-calibrated paths, and signaling (910) an alert if the set of signal strengths are not within the coverage variation limit of the one or more pre-calibrated paths. The RFTP is a time series of the signal strengths between the tracking device and the one or more PANs resulting from a change in location of the tracking device.

Abstract: A communication system (100) dynamically manages a plurality of objects (105). Each object (120) has a communication device (145) placed within or in close proximity to the object (120) for communicating a plurality of object information (245). A group controller (220) communicates with the communication device (145) and takes over responsibility for communication within the communication system (100) for the communication device (145) when the object location (130) comes within a communication range of the group controller (220).

Abstract: A method of tracking objects uses an anchor beacon that can emit a broadcast over a range that is detectable by an object tracking device. The object tracking device can automatically detect a presence or absence of the broadcast. When the broadcast is present, the object tracking device can take no action. When the broadcast is absent, the object tracking device can determine a current location for the object tracking device and can convey an OTA communication to a tracking server. The OTA communication can indicate the absence of the broadcast and can also including the current location. The tracking server can selectively send a notification to a previously designated communication device to notify a user that the object tracking device is outside the range.

Abstract: A method for tracking objects in a way that conserves power resources. The method can establish a designed range defining a safe area based upon the broadcast signal of an anchor beacon. When the tracking device is within the designed range, the tracking device can be placed in a mode of low power consumption. Should the tracking device move outside of the designated range, then the tracking device can be placed in mode for active tracking. The level of power consumption can be achieved by only enabling a WAN transceiver in the active tracking mode.

Abstract: A method (300) of selecting a financial account to be used to make a contactless payment. The method can include, during a payment transaction at a point-of-sale terminal (110), selecting at least one financial account having associated financial information, the financial account selected from a plurality of available financial accounts. Contactless payment for the purchase can be made using the selected financial account. The method further can include identifying a type of purchase being made during the payment transaction. In such an arrangement, selecting the financial account can include selecting the financial account having associated financial information that best matches user preferences established for the identified type of purchase.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method of tracking objects. In the method, an anchor beacon can emit a broadcast over a range that is detectable by an object tracking device. The object tracking device can automatically detect a presence or absence of the broadcast. When the broadcast is present; the object tracking device can take no action. When the broadcast is absent, the object tracking device can determine a current location for the object tracking device and can convey an OTA communication to a tracking server. The OTA communication can indicate the absence of the broadcast and can also including the current location. The tracking server can selectively send a notification to a previously designated communication device to notify a user that the object tracking device is outside the range.

Abstract: A method for tracking objects in a way that, conserves power resources. The method can establish a designed range defining a safe area based upon the broadcast signal of an anchor beacon. When the tracking device is within the designed range, the tracking device can be placed in a mode of low power consumption. Should the tracking device move outside of the designated range, then the tracking device can be placed in mode for active tracking. The level of power consumption can he achieved by only enabling a WAN transceiver in the active tracking mode.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a solution that establishes an emergency contact list, which includes at least one contact. The emergency contact list can be associated with a mobile device capable of wireless communications. The mobile device can be placed within a quiet zone that restricts wireless communications capabilities of the mobile deice while the mobile device is within the quiet zone. A communication attempt can be detected that involves the mobile device and a second device used by a communication participant. When the communication participant is included within the emergency contact list, at least one emergency communication action can be automatically performed. The emergency communication action can provide a communication capability for a communication conducted responsive to the communication attempt that is a capability denied for communications where the communication participant is not included in the emergency contact list.

Abstract: A system and method for determining a most likely material composition of an object. At least one respective stored radiation polarization transformation is stored for at least one material composition at a plurality of wavelengths. A transmitted electromagnetic signal with at least one wavelength within the plurality of wavelengths and that has a predetermined transmitted polarization profile is transmitted. The transmitted signal encounters an object and is received as at least one received signal. Processing determines a respective received polarization for each of the at least one wavelength of the received signal, determines a respective calculated polarization transformation between the transmitted polarization profile and the received polarization of the respective wavelength, for each of the at least one wavelength.

Abstract: A system (160) and method (400) is provided for validating a location of a tracking device. The method can include monitoring (902) a set of signal strengths (600) to one or more personal area networks (104) and one or more cellular towers (110), generating (906) a Radio Frequency Time Profile RFTP (700) from the set of signal strengths, comparing (908) the RFTP o coverage variation limits (720) of one or more pre-calibrated paths, and signaling (910) an alert if the set of signal strengths are not within the coverage variation limit of the one or more pre-calibrated paths. The RFTP is a time series of the signal strengths between the tracking device and the one or more PANs resulting from a change in location of the tracking device.

Abstract: A system (100) and method (500, 600, or 700) of enhancing social networking through random location connectivity can include a transceiver (212) and a processor (210) operatively coupled to the transceiver. The transceiver can be a part of a cellular or camera phone for example. The processor can be programmed to request (502) a random connection to a wireless device in a given local area and receive the random connection to the wireless device among devices on a list of available wireless devices. The system can further include a location server (106) and a social network server (108) that receives the request for the random connection from the transceiver and that has access to the list of available wireless devices in the given local area from the location server. The location server and the social network server can be coupled to each other via the Internet (105).

Abstract: A communication system (10) for providing dynamic management of a plurality of contacts (215) includes a messaging server (120) and a plurality of communication devices (75). The messaging server (120) dynamically manages the plurality of contacts (215) for each messaging user (205) by using a plurality of contact information (225) for each contact (220) and a plurality of user settings (210) of the messaging user (205) to determine a current priority setting (280) for the contact (220). Each of the plurality of communication devices (75) are used by at least one messaging user (205) for receiving the plurality of contacts (215) and the plurality of contact information (225) from the messaging server (120).

Abstract: A system, method and computer readable medium for communicating data over a voice channel on a wireless device (300) is disclosed. The method on a wireless device (300) includes establishing an audio connection with a second device and providing an interface (326) for a user for sending data to the second device. The method further includes detecting the activation of the interface (326) by the user and sending a first data to the second device during the audio connection with the second device, wherein the quality of the audio connection is not affected by the sending. The method further includes receiving a second data from the second device, the second data being associated with the first data and preferably synchronizing the first data with the second data. Information, such as Vcard information, can be wirelessly exchanged between devices communicating data over a voice channel during an audio connection.

Abstract: A method carried out at a device (700), of limiting visual information that can be stored or transmitted captures a visual image (408). Whenever a control signal is detected (412) at the device (700), an optical symbol recognition of the image is performed. The method further includes comparing symbols generated by the optical symbol recognition routine to one or more predetermined symbols. When a symbol match to one or more predetermined symbols is generated, at least a portion of the visual image (408) is obscured.

Abstract: A subscriber device (10) includes one or more sensors (102) for measuring a object electromagnetic characteristic, such as conductivity, permittivity or permeability. A controller (104) stores the object electromagnetic parameter in memory (106) and, operating in accordance with a performance enhancement routine stored in the memory (106), enhances operation of the subscriber device (10) in accordance with the electromagnetic parameter. The controller (104) may do this by adjusting the power of an amplifier (112), the frequency of a synthesizer (114) or the impedance of an antenna (110). A software program controlling the subscriber device and a corresponding method are described.

Abstract: A subscriber device (10) includes one or more sensors (102) for measuring a object electromagnetic characteristic, such as conductivity, permittivity or permeability. A controller (104) stores the object electromagnetic parameter in memory (106) and, operating in accordance with a performance enhancement routine stored in the memory (106), enhances operation of the subscriber device (10) in accordance with the electromagnetic parameter. The controller (104) may do this by adjusting the power of an amplifier (112), the frequency of a synthesizer (114) or the impedance of an antenna (110). A software program controlling the subscriber device and a corresponding method are described.

Abstract: A communication system (100) dynamically manages a plurality of objects (105). Each object (120) has a communication device (145) placed within or in close proximity to the object (120) for communicating a plurality of object information (245). A group controller (220) communicates with the communication device (145) and takes over responsibility for communication within the communication system (100) for the communication device (145) when the object location (130) comes within a communication range of the group controller (220).

Abstract: A method (500) and a mobile station (160) for determining a communication channel for a communication session are described herein. In a wireless communication system, the mobile station (160) may generate a channel list request having characteristic information associated with the mobile station (160). The characteristic information may include, but is not limited to, information associated with a device identifier, geographical location, application requirement, and capability of the mobile station (160). The mobile station (160) may transmit the channel list request to a server (330) associated with a wireless service provider via the Internet. Based on the characteristic information, the mobile station (160) may receive a channel list from the server (330). The channel list may include at least one channel operable by the mobile station for the communication session.

Abstract: A method carried out at a device (700), of limiting visual information that can be stored or transmitted captures a visual image (408). Whenever a control signal is detected (412) at the device (700), an optical symbol recognition of the image is performed. The method further includes comparing symbols generated by the optical symbol recognition routine to one or more predetermined symbols. When a symbol match to one or more predetermined symbols is generated, at least a portion of the visual image (408) is obscured.

Abstract: A communication system (10) for providing dynamic management of a plurality of contacts (215) includes a messaging server (120) and a plurality of communication devices (75). The messaging server (120) dynamically manages the plurality of contacts (215) for each messaging user (205) by using a plurality of contact information (225) for each contact (220) and a plurality of user settings (210) of the messaging user (205) to determine a current priority setting (280) for the contact (220). Each of the plurality of communication devices (75) are used by at least one messaging user (205) for receiving the plurality of contacts (215) and the plurality of contact information (225) from the messaging server (120).