Abstract: A method for triggering a group of one or more detached wireless communication devices (122) to attach to a wireless communications network (101) for enabling data communications is disclosed. A trigger request message including a group identifier, size information for the group, and location information for the one or more wireless communication devices (122) is received (302) at the network (101). Based on this information, the network (101) determines (304) a delay time period during which the one or more wireless communication devices (122) are to transmit an access request message to the network (101) when triggered to attach to the network. The delay time period is based on the size of the group. During a trigger period, the delay time period and group identifier is transmitted (306) to the one or more wireless communication devices (122) in a trigger message. A wireless communication device (122) is also described.

Abstract: A wireless communication system 5 comprises a wireless communication device arranged to detect multiple wireless access networks available for connection to the wireless communication device for providing data services. The device is arranged to discover one or more access capabilities of at least one of the detected wireless access networks, and compares the discovered access capabilities with a mobility policy so as to select an available wireless access networks for connection. Access capabilities may include aspects such as IP protocols and ports allowed by an access network, and capacity constraints such as available uplink and downlink transmission rates.

Abstract: A method for triggering a group of one or more detached wireless communication devices (122) to attach to a wireless communications network (101) for enabling data communications is disclosed. A trigger request message including a group identifier, size information for the group, and location information for the one or more wireless communication devices (122) is received (302) at the network (101). Based on this information, the network (101) determines (304) a delay time period during which the one or more wireless communication devices (122) are to transmit an access request message to the network (101) when triggered to attach to the network. The delay time period is based on the size of the group. During a trigger period, the delay time period and group identifier is transmitted (306) to the one or more wireless communication devices (122) in a trigger message. A wireless communication device (122) is also described.

Abstract: A method for triggering a group of one or more detached wireless communication devices (122) to attach to a wireless communications network (101) for enabling data communications is disclosed. A trigger request message including a group identifier, size information for the group, and location information for the one or more wireless communication devices (122) is received (302) at the network (101). Based on this information, the network (101) determines (304) a delay time period during which the one or more wireless communication devices (122) are to transmit an access request message to the network (101) when triggered to attach to the network. The delay time period is based on the size of the group. During a trigger period, the delay time period and group identifier is transmitted (306) to the one or more wireless communication devices (122) in a trigger message. A wireless communication device (122) is also described.

Abstract: A method and system for predicting an estimated remaining utility usage and adjusting an alert threshold for a prepaid utility meter account includes receiving an indication of a time period of inaccessibility to replenish a prepaid utility meter account, predicting an alert trigger time when an estimated remaining utility usage for the prepaid utility meter account falls below an alert threshold, and determining that the time period of inaccessibility overlaps the predicted alert trigger time, and responsively adjusting the alert threshold such that the predicted alert trigger time occurs before the time period of inaccessibility. The method also includes receiving an indication of a business objective for a utility company and automatically adjusting the alert threshold associated with the prepaid utility meter account based on the business objective.

Abstract: A method and system for predicting an estimated remaining utility usage and adjusting an alert threshold for a prepaid utility meter account includes receiving an indication of a time period of inaccessibility to replenish a prepaid utility meter account, predicting an alert trigger time when an estimated remaining utility usage for the prepaid utility meter account falls below an alert threshold, and determining that the time period of inaccessibility overlaps the predicted alert trigger time, and responsively adjusting the alert threshold such that the predicted alert trigger time occurs before the time period of inaccessibility. The method also includes receiving an indication of a business objective for a utility company and automatically adjusting the alert threshold associated with the prepaid utility meter account based on the business objective.

Abstract: While a mobile wireless device (102) operates in a home region (106), the mobile wireless device (102) displays public broadcast messages in accordance with the default broadcast message display settings (244) for the home region (106). In the event that the mobile wireless device (102) transits to a different region (110) for which region-specific broadcast message display settings have not already been configured, the mobile wireless device (102) queries a user to configure the broadcast message display settings (244) to be used for the new region (110). The display settings for a given region may be stored such that when the mobile wireless device (102) enters a region previously visited, the previously-configured display settings for the previously-visited region may be automatically implemented without user prompting.

Abstract: A system utilized by a user, a server, and a content output device; the server being operable to provide a stream of input content. The content output device can output content based on the stream of input content. The stream of input content includes a chunk of content data. The system includes a receiver, an interactive playback controller portion, a playback indicator, a storage portion and an output portion. The receiver can receive the stream of input content as downloaded data. The playback indicator can indicate a location of the chunk within the stream of input content. The storage portion can store the downloaded data. The output portion can output an output signal, based on the downloaded data, to the content output device. The interactive playback controller portion can enable the user to instruct the output portion to output the chunk of content data as the output signal.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a system and method for generating an optimized data block to save power consumption for both base station and mobile station when one user is in silent mode in VAMOS operation, including application to machine type communication. Three different optimized time-slots are designed and in-band signaling will inform a mobile station which optimized time-slot is received.

Abstract: A method and system for predicting an estimated remaining utility usage and adjusting an alert threshold for a prepaid utility meter account includes receiving an indication of a time period of inaccessibility to replenish a prepaid utility meter account, predicting an alert trigger time when an estimated remaining utility usage for the prepaid utility meter account falls below an alert threshold, and determining that the time period of inaccessibility overlaps the predicted alert trigger time, and responsively adjusting the alert threshold such that the predicted alert trigger time occurs before the time period of inaccessibility. The method also includes receiving an indication of a business objective for a utility company and automatically adjusting the alert threshold associated with the prepaid utility meter account based on the business objective.

Abstract: While a mobile wireless device (102) operates in a home region (106), the mobile wireless device (102) displays public broadcast messages in accordance with the default broadcast message display settings (244) for the home region (106). In the event that the mobile wireless device (102) transits to a different region (110) for which region-specific broadcast message display settings have not already been configured, the mobile wireless device (102) queries a user to configure the broadcast message display settings (244) to be used for the new region (110). The display settings for a given region may be stored such that when the mobile wireless device (102) enters a region previously visited, the previously-configured display settings for the previously-visited region may be automatically implemented without user prompting.

Abstract: A method for triggering a group of one or more detached wireless communication devices (122) to attach to a wireless communications network (101) for enabling data communications is disclosed. A trigger request message including a group identifier, size information for the group, and location information for the one or more wireless communication devices (122) is received (302) at the network (101). Based on this information, the network (101) determines (304) a delay time period during which the one or more wireless communication devices (122) are to transmit an access request message to the network (101) when triggered to attach to the network. The delay time period is based on the size of the group. During a trigger period, the delay time period and group identifier is transmitted (306) to the one or more wireless communication devices (122) in a trigger message. A wireless communication device (122) is also described.

Abstract: A system utilized by a user, a server, and a content output device; the server being operable to provide a stream of input content. The content output device can output content based on the stream of input content. The stream of input content includes a chunk of content data. The system includes a receiver, an interactive playback controller portion, a playback indicator, a storage portion and an output portion. The receiver can receive the stream of input content as downloaded data. The playback indicator can indicate a location of the chunk within the stream of input content. The storage portion can store the downloaded data. The output portion can output an output signal, based on the downloaded data, to the content output device. The interactive playback controller portion can enable the user to instruct the output portion to output the chunk of content data as the output signal.

Abstract: A wireless communication system 5 comprises a wireless communication device arranged to detect multiple wireless access networks available for connection to the wireless communication device for providing data services. The device is arranged to discover one or more access capabilities of at least one of the detected wireless access networks, and compares the discovered access capabilities with a mobility policy so as to select an available wireless access networks for connection. Access capabilities may include aspects such as IP protocols and ports allowed by an access network, and capacity constraints such as available uplink and downlink transmission rates.

Abstract: A method for facilitating a handover of a communication device (202) active on a first radio access network (210) to a second radio access network (206) comprises while the communication device is active on the first radio access network (210), detecting (502) a target access node (216) in the second radio access network for communication with the communication device, deciding (540) to handover the communication device from the first radio access network to the detected target access node, in response to a decision to handover and prior to handing over, initiating (506) by the communication device an access control process to authenticate and authorize the communication device for access to the second radio access network, including sending by the communication device a handover request message via the first radio access network to an application server (222) communicably coupled to the first and second radio access networks to initiate the access control process, and after the communication device is authen

Abstract: A method for facilitating a handover of a communication device (202) active on a first radio access network (210) to a second radio access network (206) comprises whilst the communication device is active on the first radio access network (210), detecting (502) a target access node (216) in the second radio access network for communication with the communication device, deciding (540) to handover the communication device from the first radio access network to the detected target access node, in response to a decision to handover and prior to handing over, initiating (506) by the communication device an access control process to authenticate and authorise the communication device for access to the second radio access network, including sending by the communication device a handover request message via the first radio access network to an application server (222) communicably coupled to the first and second radio access networks to initiate the access control process, and after the communication device is authe

Abstract: A cellular communication system comprises a user equipment (101) which is arranged to transmit control channel messages to a network (103) of the communication system. When a message is transmitted, the user equipment (101) enters an active monitoring mode for a time interval after which it returns to the power-down mode. The user equipment (101) monitors a paging channel when in the active monitoring mode but not in all paging cycles when in the power-down mode. The network (103) is arranged to transmit paging messages in response to a detection of the control channel message from the user equipment (101). The invention may allow a much longer power-down interval thereby reducing power consumption and increasing battery life. The approach may be particularly suitable for machine-to-machine communications.

Abstract: An apparatus (101) for accessing an access point of a Wireless Local Area Network, (WLAN) comprises an access message generator (207) which generates encrypted probe messages that are encrypted in response to a plurality of test network identities. The access message generator (207) is coupled to a WLAN transceiver (203) which transmits the encrypted probe messages to an access point (113). The access point (113) decodes received access messages using a decryption key which depends on a network identity of the access point (113). If an encrypted probe message is successfully decrypted, a positive acknowledgement message is transmitted to the apparatus (101). This is received by the WLAN transceiver (203) and fed to an identity processor (211) which determines the network identity of the access point (113) as the test network identity of the encrypted probe message for which the positive acknowledgement message is received.