Abstract: A method and apparatus determines whether a wireless apparatus (106a) that is operative to communicate over both a wireless wide area network (104) and a wireless local area network (102), will allow shared use of its short range wireless resources, such as LAN radio frequency bandwidth, optical bandwidth or other local area wireless resources, with other proximal wireless units (106b–106n) in the wireless local area network (102). In addition, the method and apparatus generated reward data (116) to provide a reward, such as free telephone calls, account credits, price reductions, or other rewards, so that a billing system is updated when a wireless apparatus (106a–106n) has been designated as allowing shared use of its wireless resources by other proximal wireless units.

Abstract: A wireless communication device (300) and corresponding system therein uses a plurality of biometric sensors (206, 208, 210) for assessing the identity of a user requesting access to a feature or service provided via the wireless communication device (300). A method comprises collecting (410) a biometric sample from one of the sensors and enabling the feature or service (414) when the sample matches a known sample (412) corresponding to the user. Preferably a sensor will be selected, based on evaluating whether a corresponding predetermined condition exists (406), from a list of the plurality of sensors that is prioritized according to accuracy and ease of use of the sensor.

Abstract: A wireless handheld communication device (102) for reducing a communication delay at a proximate wireless communication device is disclosed. The wireless handheld communication device simultaneously transmits to a remote station (106) through a base station (108), and transmits to the proximate wireless communication device (104) directly. The method includes communicating a first communication on first link (116) to a proximate wireless communication device and communicating, simultaneously with communicating the first communication, a second communication on a second link (112) to a base station, wherein the first communication and the second communication are substantially the same.

Abstract: A wireless subscriber unit (200) determines (502) a billing mode applicable to a portion of a call, and generates (508, 518) partitioning information for the portion of the call, corresponding to the billing mode. The wireless subscriber unit and a consolidation system (300, 400) cooperate to partition (514, 526) the billing charges between at least two billable entities, based upon the partitioning information. A method of partitioning is also described.

Abstract: A method for receiving a radio communication in a radio communication system (100) shares the downlink processing burden among members of a local group of local stations. The method includes receiving the radio communication (302) at a first mobile station (304) of a plurality of mobile stations (300). The method further includes transmitting a local radio communication (306) from the first mobile station to an intended recipient mobile station (308) of the plurality of mobile stations.

Abstract: A communication unit, system, and corresponding method are arranged for distributing information. The communications unit comprises: a receiver to receive a message originating from an information source for distribution to one or more target communications units; a controller coupled to a memory to store the information in the memory; and a transmitter having short range communications capabilities to transmit the information to individual communications units to facilitate distribution to the one or more target communications units on an opportunistic basis.

Abstract: A method and apparatus splits information into subsets of information to be communicated for a wireless apparatus. The split information (512a–512d) is transmitted to a plurality of proximal wireless units (106b–106n). The plurality of proximal wireless units convey at least some of the transmitted split information to a destination wireless apparatus (106a). This splitting operation is used in both uplink and downlink communications.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of coordinating an activity at a destination includes receiving a first signal indicative of a first location of a first party (110). The first signal is received at a destination of the first party. A second signal indicative of a second location of a second party is received at a destination (112), which is also the destination of the second party. A schedule is created (150) to coordinate the activity automatically at the destination. The schedule is based on the first and second signals indicative of the first and second locations and may include additional functions such as the estimated times of arrival of the first and second parties (120, 122). Also, the present invention is a method of notification upon arrival at a predetermined location (200) that includes receiving a first signal indicative of the location of a first party (210).

Abstract: A portable communication device (100) includes at least one sensing circuit (101) and a processor (104), and operates in accordance with a corresponding method of operation. The sensing circuit detects (205) either a characteristic of an external environment containing the portable communication device (e.g., a chemical in the air or acceleration of the device) or a characteristic of the portable communication device user (e.g., heart rate or blood sugar content), and generates a signal (207) representative of a feature of the sensed characteristic. The processor receives the signal and initiates an event based at least on the feature of the sensed characteristic as represented by the signal. Events include, but are not limited to, one or more of the following: alerting the device user, transmitting a signal (e.g., an emergency call) to a remote communication device, re-sensing the characteristic or sensing another characteristic, and modifying a setting or profile of the device.

Abstract: A group of independent wireless apparatus (106a–106n) in a wireless local area network are identified and coordinated (aggregated) using the short-range wireless area network (wireless LAN). Each wireless apparatus receives information from a wireless wide area network (wireless WAN) such as a conventional cellular system. The plurality of independent proximal wireless apparatus (106b–106n) receive the same information that is ultimately destined for one of the wireless apparatus in the proximal group in the wireless local area network. Each proximal wireless apparatus (106b–106n) that has received the same information from the wide area network then retransmits or forwards the same information to the destination wireless apparatus (106a). Accordingly, the plurality of wireless apparatus in the local area network receive the same information from a wide area network and forward it, using the short range wireless communication system, to a destination wireless apparatus in the local area network.

Abstract: A wireless communications unit 200, and corresponding method within, is arranged and constructed for choosing a system selection algorithm that is used for selecting a system to provide services for the communications unit and comprises: means for associating a location with the wireless communications unit 223 215; a controller 209 for choosing a system selection algorithm from a plurality of such algorithms based on the location, where the chosen algorithm includes scan parameters (FIG. 3) that vary with the location; and a receiver 205 controllable by the controller according to the chosen algorithm to search for a system to provide service for the wireless communications unit.

Abstract: A subscriber device (2) includes a long code generator (12) and a modifier (30) for generating a spread bit stream with a predetermined error pattern that is transmitted by a transmitter (16) at the subscriber device (2) to a base station (3). The base station (3) identifies the current subscriber device properties by identifying the error pattern and subsequently compares the current subscriber device properties with a knowledge base of subscriber device software properties associated with the error pattern in the spread bit stream. The knowledge base is stored in a memory source (4).

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for managing in a mobile subscriber the traffic flow of a communication connection during a cell reselection. The method includes communicating via a communication connection with a first cell, and monitoring communication conditions, while communicating with the first cell. An approximate time is then determined, when conditions associated with the flow of communication via the communication connection with the first cell is consistent with transferring the flow of communication to a communication connection with a second cell. The mobile subscriber then establishes a communication connection with the second cell, while maintaining the communication connection with the first cell.

Abstract: A method (300, 400), system (245) for and corresponding communications unit 200 provide assistance for and control of the unit. The system in one embodiment, preferably comprises: a processor (223) and a memory (225); where the processor interprets a control message, available from a local application or remote agent (119), that corresponds to one or more control commands, such as keypad activations to provide keypad data and executes software instructions stored in the memory to control the communication unit according to the keypad data. The control message can represent voiced instructions that have been converted to control commands in order to provide assistance to a user of the unit or device.

Abstract: A method (300, 400) of and server (200) for providing assistance with control of a communications unit, the method comprising receiving an instruction message (303) via a network that corresponds to voiced instructions from the communications unit; converting the voiced instructions to control commands (309); providing a control message corresponding to the control commands (313); and sending the control message to the communications unit (315), thereby assisting with the control of the communications unit.

Abstract: A wireless communications device (100), after determining it can not locally satisfy a request for network data (201), sends a search query or request for data to a proximal device that has a network cache function (202). The proximal device searches for the requested data (203) and if the data is found, then the data is sent to the requesting wireless communications device from the proximal device (206). The data request is sent over a wide area network (204), for example, the Internet, if the proximal device does not have the requested data stored in a memory on the proximal device (204). The wireless communications device stores the data for subsequent use and, if necessary, subsequent provision to a proximal device.

Abstract: The embodiments of the present invention provide a method and apparatus for assigning enhanced mobile subscriber units to a telecommunications network. In a first embodiment, a network identifies a classmark of a mobile subscriber unit and determines whether the mobile has an enhanced performance capability, for example an interference cancellation capability. If the mobile is enhanced, it is assigned to a high fractional load timeslot. If not, a low fractional load timeslot is allocated. Handover procedures are controlled in a like manner, wherein mobile capability is determined prior to assigning timeslots during handover.

Abstract: A wireless subscriber unit (200) determines (502) a billing mode applicable to a portion of a call, and generates (508, 518) partitioning information for the portion of the call, corresponding to the billing mode. The wireless subscriber unit and a consolidation system (300, 400) cooperate to partition (514, 526) the billing charges between at least two billable entities, based upon the partitioning information. A method of partitioning is also described.

Abstract: A communication unit 101, 103, system (FIG. 3) and corresponding method 500 are arranged for distributing information. The communications unit comprises: a receiver 203, 231 to receive a message originating from an information source for distribution to one or more target communications units; a controller 207 coupled to a memory 215 to store the information in the memory; and a transmitter 205 having short range communications capabilities to transmit the information to individual communications units to facilitate distribution to the one or more target communications units on an opportunistic basis.

Abstract: A method and apparatus determines whether a wireless apparatus (106a) that is operative to communicate over both a wireless wide area network (104) and a wireless local area network (102), will allow shared use of its short range wireless resources, such as LAN radio frequency bandwidth, optical bandwidth or other local area wireless resources, with other proximal wireless units (106b-106n) in the wireless local area network (102). In addition, the method and apparatus generated reward data (116) to provide a reward, such as free telephone calls, account credits, price reductions, or other rewards, so that a billing system is updated when a wireless apparatus (106a-106n) has been designated as allowing shared use of its wireless resources by other proximal wireless units.