Abstract: A mobile computing device is operated to control a vehicle. A digital key for accessing a vehicle is stored for accessing the vehicle. Profile information is associated with the digital key for configuring operation and/or use of a vehicle. The profile information may include one or more outside parameters for implementing one or more pre-entry vehicle configurations. When one or more proximity conditions are detected as being satisfied as between the mobile computing device and the vehicle, a communication is sent to the vehicle in order to cause the vehicle to implement one or more pre-entry vehicle configurations. The communication can be based on the digital key and may specify the one or more outside parameters.

Abstract: Devices, systems, or methods provide seamless transitioning of communication session(s) across a variety of resources (e.g., cellular telephone, car phones, voice over internet protocol (VOIP), WiFi, web-based communications, conventional analog phones, global positioning systems (GPS), numerous communications services providers, a variety of communications protocols, services, etc.) to exploit functionalities associated therewith and mitigate users' having to end a communication session, and initiate another session in order to utilize different set(s) of available resources.

Abstract: In response to detecting the entry condition, a determination is made as to when multiple mobile computing devices are present within the vehicle. An occupancy zone is determined for each multiple mobile computing device that is determined as being present within the vehicle. Profile information is determined for each mobile computing device. At least one of an operational or usage facet of the vehicle can be configured at each occupancy zone in which one of the mobile computing devices is determined to be present. The operational or usage facet of the vehicle at a location of each occupancy zone can be based at least in part on the profile information determined from the mobile computing device that is deemed to be present at that occupancy zone.

Abstract: A wireless terminal supports both peer to peer communications and access node based communications. The wireless terminal considers and evaluates communications link alternatives and selects between (i) communication using a peer to peer link and (ii) communications using a link, with a base station serving as an access node, Received signals corresponding to each of the link alternatives are used in performing link quality determinations. In one example, a received user beacon signal from a peer wireless terminal is the received signal used for the peer to peer link evaluation and a: base station beacon signal is the received signal used for the access node link evaluation. A link is selected as a function of quality determination, predicted data throughput, link maintenance energy requirements, and/or least cost routing determination information.

Abstract: Receivers accommodating carrier frequency selection methods in wireless communications systems employing multiple carrier frequencies are described. Although the receiver is tuned to a single band, an estimate of the channel quality corresponding to the currently used carrier and an alternative carrier is generated without switching between carriers. Transmitters of different cells and/or different sectors primarily use different carrier frequencies but periodically transmit using a neighboring sector's carrier frequency. Mobile node receivers use a single RF chain with a controllable RF filter to receive and process a signal within a first selected carrier band including two components, a first signal component identified with the first currently selected band and a second signal component identified with a second alternative band.

Abstract: In response to detecting the entry condition, a determination is made as to when multiple mobile computing devices are present within the vehicle. An occupancy zone is determined for each multiple mobile computing device that is determined as being present within the vehicle. Profile information is determined for each mobile computing device. At least one of an operational or usage facet of the vehicle can be configured at each occupancy zone in which one of the mobile computing devices is determined to be present. The operational or usage facet of the vehicle at a location of each occupancy zone can be based at least in part on the profile information determined from the mobile computing device that is deemed to be present at that occupancy zone.

Abstract: A mobile computing device is operated to control a vehicle. A digital key for accessing a vehicle is stored for accessing the vehicle. Profile information is associated with the digital key for configuring operation and/or use of a vehicle. The profile information may include one or more outside parameters for implementing one or more pre-entry vehicle configurations. When one or more proximity conditions are detected as being satisfied as between the mobile computing device and the vehicle, a communication is sent to the vehicle in order to cause the vehicle to implement one or more pre-entry vehicle configurations. The communication can be based on the digital key and may specify the one or more outside parameters.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus supporting peer to peer communications are discussed. A base station, serving as an access node for wireless terminals also communicates information supporting peer to peer communications. A base station transmits a beacon signal conveying information about a peer to peer frequency band and also receives user data from a plurality of wireless terminals, using the base station as a current point of network attachment. In some embodiments, the beacon signal is transmitted into the same frequency band being used for access node based communications and identifies a different frequency band which is to be used as a peer to peer frequency band. Alternatively, or in addition, in support of peer to peer communications, a beacon signal transmission apparatus, a free standing device which doesn't transmit user data, transmits a sequence of beacon signal bursts, each beacon signal burst including at least one high power beacon symbol.

Abstract: Wireless devices, e.g., in a cognitive radio network, discover and use locally available usable spectrum for communication. Beacon signaling facilitates available spectrum discovery, spectrum usage coordination, and device identification. A wireless terminal, which may have entered a new area and powered up, monitors to detect for the presence of beacon signals in a communications band. When the wireless terminal fails to detect a beacon, the wireless terminal assumes that the spectrum is available and transmits its user beacon signal thereby providing notification of its presence in the area to other wireless terminals. The wireless terminal maintains a coordinated timing relationship between its beacon transmit interval and beacon detect interval, which are performed on an ongoing basis. The combination of beacon TX interval and beacon monitoring interval represents a small fraction of total time, allowing for power conservation.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus supporting peer to peer communications are discussed. A base station serving as an access node for wireless terminals also communicates information supporting peer to peer communications. A base station transmits a beacon signal conveying information about a peer to peer frequency band and also receives user data from a plurality of wireless terminals, using the base station as a current point of network attachment. In some embodiments, the beacon signal is transmitted into the same frequency band being used for access node based communications and identifies a different frequency band which is to be used as a peer to peer frequency band. Alternatively, or in addition, in support of peer to peer communications, a beacon signal transmission apparatus, a free standing device which doesn't transmit user data, transmits a sequence of beacon signal bursts, each beacon signal burst including at least one high power beacon symbol.

Abstract: Wireless terminal operation is coordinated to be responsive to dynamic communications frequency spectrum reallocation between infrastructure based communications usage and peer to peer communications usage. Methods and apparatus in which mobile nodes switch between cellular and peer to peer communication modes of operation are described. Broadcast signals, e.g., beacon signals, are monitored and detected by the mobile node to ascertain a current spectrum usage designation, and the mobile node switches operational modes in response to detected changes in the broadcast signals.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus supporting peer to peer communications are discussed. A base station, serving as an access node for wireless terminals also communicates information supporting peer to peer communications. A base station transmits a beacon signal conveying information about a peer to peer frequency band and also receives user data from a plurality of wireless terminals, using the base station as a current point of network attachment. In some embodiments, the beacon signal is transmitted into the same frequency band being used for access node based communications and identifies a different frequency band which is to be used as a peer to peer frequency band. Alternatively, or in addition, in support of peer to peer communications, a beacon signal transmission apparatus, a free standing device which doesn't transmit user data, transmits a sequence of beacon signal bursts, each beacon signal burst including at least one high power beacon symbol.

Abstract: A wireless terminal determines a desired mode of base station operation with regard to whether the base station is to function as a network access node or is to function in a peer to peer mode with regard to a frequency band, and communicates a change signal to the base station. Some change signals are request signals requesting a base station to dynamically reallocate spectrum usage, while other change signals are command signals ordering the base station to reallocate spectrum usage. Information indicating a level of authority corresponding to the change signals, in some embodiments, corresponds to one of a device identifier, a user identifier, and a priority level indicator. An exemplary command signal comes from a device used by a government agent with the authority to override spectrum usage.

Abstract: A first mobile node supports peer to peer communications but not cellular communications. Other mobile modes in the communication system support a cellular mode and may support a peer to peer communications mode. The communications system is such that spectrum may be dynamically reallocated between being designated to be used for peer to peer operations and being used primarily for cellular network based operations. Beacon signals are used to communicate a current mode of frequency spectrum usage designation. The first mobile node, being in an ongoing peer to peer communications session detects that the spectrum is being reallocated for cellular based operations. The first mobile node reduces its transmission power level in response to the detected spectrum reallocation. In some embodiments, the first mobile is allowed to continue its ongoing peer to peer session while the spectrum is primarily allocated for cellular communications, albeit at a lower transmission power level.

Abstract: A wireless terminal receives base station position over an airlink, determines its relative position with respect to the base station and determines a timing adjustment correction. The determined timing correction is applied to control uplink signaling timing and achieve synchronization at the base station's receiver. The wireless terminal determines its relative velocity with respect to the base station and determines a Doppler shift adjustment which it adds to the uplink carrier frequency or to its baseband A wireless terminal determines position of a moving base station and determines timing and/or frequency corrections. Base station position is determined from the current time and stored information correlating the base station position with time, for a geo-synchronous satellite. Base station position information is determined from broadcast information, e.g., GPS base station position, for an aircraft base station.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for updating symbol information in a communication device with hardware such as a microcontroller are disclosed. The disclosed apparatus and methods employ waiting for the beginning of a symbol in a sample stream at a predetermined time. One or more programmed instructions are read at the beginning of the symbol, and then symbol information is updated based on the one or more programmable instructions and setting a time for a beginning of a next symbol. The programmed instructions consist of instruction code words that are executed by a dedicated microcontroller or similar hardware, which affords flexibility for updating symbol information, particularly for multimode communication devices operable across multiple communication technologies.

Abstract: The disclosed technology, in certain embodiments, provides a mobile analytics platform tailored to a specific industry, e.g., the life science/health care industry. This platform presents large amounts of data, organized and displayed as an analytical story on a portable electronic device. The platform may translate large amounts of data to provide insights and answer questions specific to a user's role. The system may take the user through an analytical story that delivers actionable insights, thus making it easy and intuitive to consume large amounts of information.

Abstract: A wireless terminal receives base station position over an airlink, determines its relative position with respect to the base station and determines a timing adjustment correction. The wireless terminal applies the determined timing correction to control uplink signaling timing and achieve synchronization at the base station's receiver. The wireless terminal determines its relative velocity with respect to the base station and determines a Doppler shift adjustment which it adds to the uplink carrier frequency or to its baseband signal. A wireless terminal determines the position of a moving base station and determines timing and/or frequency corrections. Base station position is determined from the current time and stored information correlating the base station position with time, e.g., for a geo-synchronous satellite. Base station position information is determined from broadcast information, e.g., GPS base station position, for an aircraft base station.

Abstract: Peer to peer communication timing, e.g., for an ad hoc network, is referenced with respect to an external broadcast signal from a terrestrial or satellite based transmitter. Wireless terminals, seeking to communicate via peer to peer communications, receive the reference broadcast signal, and set their internal timing structure with respect to the reference signal. This facilitates peer to peer timing coordination. A wireless terminal transmits a signal, e.g., a user beacon signal identifying its presence, during a time interval during which another wireless terminal is expected to be monitoring. Reference signal based coordinated timing and use of user beacon signals allows the wireless terminals to maintain situational awareness and coordinate peer to peer communications, while keeping power consumption low, since wireless terminal modules can be powered down during predetermined intervals in the coordinated timing structure where the wireless terminal does not need to transmit and/or receive.

Abstract: A portable wireless terminal generates and transmits a beacon signal. The beacon signal includes a sequence of beacon signal bursts, each beacon signal burst including one or more beacon symbols. A beacon symbol is transmitted using the air link resources of a beacon symbol transmission unit at a relatively high transmission power level with respect to user data symbols transmitted from the same wireless terminal, thus facilitating easy detection by other wireless terminals. The beacon symbols of the beacon signal occupy a small fraction of the total available air link resources. Beacon signals can, and sometimes do, convey wireless terminal identification information, via the location of the beacon symbols within the portion of the air link resource reserved for beacon symbol transmission units.