Abstract: An improved user interface for use with a mobile telecommunication device such as a mobile phone to make its featured more accessible to a sight-impaired user. The user interface employs a collection of distinguishable non-visual (NV) cues that are selectively generated as the user chooses a feature for activation by navigating through a menu system. The NV cues may take any of several forms, but are most usually vibration pulses or audible sounds, or a combination of these two forms. As the user navigates through the menu system by sequentially selecting from available options, the NV cues are generated so that the user can sense a location within the menu system. The different NV cues may be associated with the availability of certain selected options, the selection of them, or organized in a manner analogous to the manner in which the options themselves are organized.

Abstract: A terminal adapted to communicate via a communications system includes a transmitter and a receiver for transmitting and receiving a plurality of different communications signals, respectively. The terminal includes a controller which is capable of counting service increments, such as time and/or data increments, and controlling the operation of an associated user interface to produce a user perceptible output, such as an audible tone, when the count reaches the threshold. As such, the user interface can inform the user of the terminal when a threshold for data or time usage has been reached and/or surpassed.

Abstract: A terminal adapted to communicate via a communications system includes a transmitter and a receiver for transmitting and receiving a plurality of different communications signals, respectively. The terminal includes a controller which is capable of counting service increments, such as time and/or data increments, and controlling the operation of an associated user interface to produce a user perceptible output, such as an audible tone, when the count reaches the threshold. As such, the user interface can inform the user of the terminal when a threshold for data or time usage has been reached and/or surpassed.

Abstract: An improved user interface for use with a mobile telecommunication device such as a mobile phone to make its featured more accessible to a sight-impaired user. The user interface employs a collection of distinguishable non-visual (NV) cues that are selectively generated as the user chooses a feature for activation by navigating through a menu system. The NV cues may take any of several forms, but are most usually vibration pulses or audible sounds, or a combination of these two forms. As the user navigates through the menu system by sequentially selecting from available options, the NV cues are generated so that the user can sense a location within the menu system. The different NV cues may be associated with the availability of certain selected options, the selection of them, or organized in a manner analogous to the manner in which the options themselves are organized.

Abstract: An extender module (300) capable of being firmly mounted to a mobile station via mounting points (331, 332, 333, 334) is provided. Extender module has a base portion (305) which may support a conduit (320) which extends from a upward facing connector (323) to a downward facing connector (321). Shell bottom may have a connector that duplicates one or more contact pads (380) of a mobile station (390). A duplicated contact pad (321) may appear on the extender module shell bottom.

Abstract: The invention comprises a mobile communications device having an attachable device that may be attached to, for example, a belt clip, and a mobile phone communicable coupled with the attachable device. The attachable device comprises a deployable and retractable ear piece and an output node containing a bias signal when the ear piece is deployed. The mobile phone comprises a bias signal port electrically coupled to the output node. The mobile phone activating a communications channel having an incoming transmission upon deployment of the ear piece and deactivating the communications channel upon retraction of the ear piece.

Abstract: A gateway interface between the public switched telephone system (PSTN) and cellular network. The gateway interface provides a conversion function between the SMS text messaging protocol and TD device text messaging protocol. The conversion function includes appropriate queuing and timing features that allow the SMS and TD functions to communicate. In an embodiment of the invention, the method and apparatus is implemented as a stand-alone gateway. The gateway may be implemented anywhere there is access to the public switched telephone network (PSTN) and coverage by a cellular system having short messaging service (SMS) capability.