Abstract: A special-purpose mobile communication device using low-bandwidth cellular technology designed for IoT applications, such Narrowband LTE for IoT, is used to securely exchange voice messages in real-time or near real-time with another user. The voice messages are short duration voice messages, also referred to as voice clips, that are capable of being compressed using file compression algorithms instead of stream compression methods ordinarily used for real-time audio. A general-purpose mobile communication device activates the special-purpose devices and creates a private network for securely exchanging the voice messages between the devices. The general-purpose device also operates a mobile application that interfaces with a cloud-based mobile voice communication and location tracking system to manage the voice messages and track the location of the special-purpose device using Observed Time Difference of Arrival measurements.

Abstract: A special-purpose mobile communication device using low-bandwidth cellular technology designed for IoT applications, such Narrowband LTE for IoT, is used to securely exchange voice messages in real-time or near real-time with another user. The voice messages are short duration voice messages, also referred to as voice clips, that are capable of being compressed using file compression algorithms instead of stream compression methods ordinarily used for real-time audio. A general-purpose mobile communication device activates the special-purpose devices and creates a private network for securely exchanging the voice messages between the devices. The general-purpose device also operates a mobile application that interfaces with a cloud-based mobile voice communication and location tracking system to manage the voice messages and track the location of the special-purpose device using Observed Time Difference of Arrival measurements.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed herein for communicating between mobile devices. In one embodiment, the method comprises launching an application on a first mobile device, joining a wireless mesh network with the first mobile device being a node in the wireless mesh network in response to launching the application, discovering one or more other mobile devices that are active in the wireless mesh network using a discovery protocol, receiving profile information from each of the one or more other mobile devices, and displaying a visual directory of participants associated with the one or more other mobile devices active in the wireless mesh network.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed herein for communicating between mobile devices. In one embodiment, the method comprises launching an application on a first mobile device, joining a wireless mesh network with the first mobile device being a node in the wireless mesh network in response to launching the application, discovering one or more other mobile devices that are active in the wireless mesh network using a discovery protocol, receiving profile information from each of the one or more other mobile devices, and displaying a visual directory of participants associated with the one or more other mobile devices active in the wireless mesh network.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed herein for content distribution and deferred payment over a wireless network. In one embodiment, the method comprises: receiving content at a first mobile device in a first network directly from a second mobile device in the first network, making use of the content by the first mobile device while deferring payment for the content due to network access being unavailable to a remote license server in a second network different than the first network, and contacting the remote license server when the first mobile device gains network access to the second network to cause payment to be made for the content.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed herein for distance estimation using signal strength information. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving a broadcast communication from one of a plurality of devices in a wireless mesh network in which devices communicate via peer-to-peer communication, measuring signal strength information corresponding to the received broadcast communication, and using the signal strength information to determine an estimate of distance between a first device and the one device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed herein for determining the location of a device with the assistance of fixed receivers. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving a first request from the mobile device in the wireless network; wirelessly transmitting one or more positioning requests in response to the first request; receiving signal strength information from one or more receivers in the wireless network sent in response to the one or more positioning requests; determining a location of the mobile device based on received signal strength information by comparing the received signal strength information with signal strength information of reference locations; and sending location information to the mobile device, where the location information is indicative of the location of the mobile device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed herein for determining the location of a device with the assistance of fixed receivers. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving a first request from the mobile device in the wireless network; wirelessly transmitting one or more positioning requests in response to the first request; receiving signal strength information from one or more receivers in the wireless network sent in response to the one or more positioning requests; determining a location of the mobile device based on received signal strength information by comparing the received signal strength information with signal strength information of reference locations; and sending location information to the mobile device, where the location information is indicative of the location of the mobile device.

Abstract: A system and method perform wireless networking that allows a cellular phone user to invite and share conversations with other cellphones or wireless communication devices in local spatial proximity by means of a wireless mesh or infrastructure or an ad-hoc network. In the system and method, there is no per-minute cost by using wireless local area networks in the unlicensed spectrum, such as a 802.11 network. Conversations are shared with only the intended persons. To join a conversation using the method, users only require any wireless device, and not necessarily a cellphone, such as a laptop with wireless capability.

Abstract: A system and method for a multithreaded universal daemon (MUD) is described. The MUD is generated from library functions common to all daemons, and is optimized for a specific type of data and protocol. The MUD includes a plurality of data sockets monitored by one of a plurality of tasks. The tasks connect the data socket to an appropriate application specific connection handler when data is received.