Abstract: While a mobile node is engaged in a communication session via a first air interface channel, the user of the mobile node requests a vertical handoff. In response to the user's handoff request, the mobile node goes into a dormant mode to release the first air interface channel. The mobile node then acquires a second air interface channel, which may have a higher data rate than the first air interface channel, and continues the communication session via the second air interface channel. The mobile node may also determine that a vertical handoff may be available, e.g., by checking a preferred roaming list (PRL), and then indicate to the user that a vertical handoff may be available.

Abstract: A method, system, and medium are provided for allowing a user to scroll through a list of items on a display, such as contacts, pictures, or other files, at variable speeds, which provides for fast, yet accurate scrolling. The user provides an indication to scroll through the list of items, such as pressing and dragging or flicking through the list. This indication may include a starting point and ending point at a certain location on the display. Depending on where the user provides this indication on the display, a scroll speed is determined at which to scroll through the list of items. As the indication of a scroll action progresses from one side of a display to the other, the scrolling speed increases such that the exact same scroll action corresponds to differing scrolling speeds, depending on the position of the user's indication of a scroll action on the display.

Abstract: One or more media is provided for performing a method of operating an electronic locking mechanism. Initially, a request from a requesting mobile device is received at a computing device via a sensing device. The request includes an identifier utilized in an initial validation sequence having the following steps: identifying a device identity according to the identifier, transmitting the device identity with a request that a message be communicated to a target mobile device, and determining validation data. Upon receiving the request, a communications network identifies the target mobile device, based on the device identity, and communicates a message with validation data therein. The mobile device conveys authentication information to the computing device, where the authentication information is based on the validation data.

Abstract: A device with a touch screen offset pointer is provided. The device includes a processor; a touch screen, and a navigator engine. When executed by the processor, the navigator engine detects a first touch input at a first location on the touch screen, determines a first offset for a pointer to overlay on content displayed by the touch screen, and displays the pointer on the touch screen at the first offset from the first location. The navigator engine also detects a second touch input at a second location on the touch screen, determines a second offset for the pointer, and displays the pointer on the touch screen at the second offset from the second location.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media, for utilizing device motions to manipulate a display screen feature. One or more motion data that indicate a motion of a device are referenced. Upon referencing motion data, manipulations to apply to a display screen feature are identified. Thereafter, the display screen feature is manipulated in accordance with the one or more manipulations identified.

Abstract: A method, system, and medium are provided for presenting on a user interface of a mobile communications device a persistently visible predetermined region capable of receiving touch input. An illustrative method includes presenting a persistently visible predetermined region capable of receiving touch input on a first screen and transitioning to a second screen. The predetermined region is persistently viewable during and after the transition between the first and second screens. Incident to receiving touch input to the predetermined region, a listing of a set of statuses of events is presented on the display.

Abstract: A method, system, and medium are provided for efficiently locating a desired item within an ordered list of items, such as a list of contacts, pictures, or football teams. An illustrative method includes presenting a selectable option on a mobile device's display, presenting a positional indicator on the display when the selectable option has been selected that indicates to the user its position within the ordered list of items, and if the selectable option is moved, dynamically indicating the positional indicator's position among the list of items. The selection of the selectable option may be made by any object, such as a finger or stylus. Further, releasing the selection of the selectable option, such as removing the object used from the display, allows for a display of an item in the ordered list of items that corresponds to the position of the positional indicator.

Abstract: A method, system, and medium are provided for inputting data into a mobile communications device having a touchscreen. An illustrative method includes receiving a user-entered character string and automatically replacing the user-entered character string with a suggested character string. The suggested character string is marked with a visual indication of the replacement and the visual indication is maintained even if the suggested character string is a correctly spelled word. An input region associated with the visual indication is provided such that a set of alternative character strings as suggested replacements may be provided incident to receiving touch input to the input region.

Abstract: A device, medium, and method are provided for enabling a user to control a mobile communications device that includes a vibration component. One embodiment of the method includes presenting an object on a touchscreen display of the mobile communications device; enabling the object to be moveable on the touchscreen by way of a touch interaction; in real time, continuously varying an output of the vibration component to cause a vibrational response of the mobile communications device, such that movement of the object in a first direction causes a first continuous vibrational output, and movement of the object in a second direction causes a second continuous vibrational output.

Abstract: A system and computer-readable media are provided for facilitating playback of voicemails using a mobile device having a display. Furthermore, embodiments of the present invention allow users to customize the grouping of voicemails, and view and play back voicemails according to these groupings. Additionally, users are able to automatically play back subsets of groups of voicemails in an order that is most meaningful to them without having to intervene during playback.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for determining the location of a mobile station based on the locations of a group of nearby mobile stations. A mobile station implementing the method will engage in short-range wireless communication with nearby mobile stations to determine the location of the nearby mobile stations and the distances between it and each nearby mobile station. The mobile station will then apply triangulation or another algorithm to compute its own location based on the determined locations and distances of the nearby mobile stations. Further, a serving radio access network can assist by providing a trust-signal to the nearby mobile stations, with the nearby mobile stations then reporting their locations conditional upon their receipt of both the location query and the trust-signal.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media, for applying a navigational mode to a device based on one or more state indicators is provided. One or more state indicators are obtained. The state indicators indicate the state of a navigational mode selector. Such a navigational mode selector may be utilized to alter the navigational mode applied to a device. Thereafter, the state indicators are associated with a navigational mode. Upon associating the state indicators with a navigational mode, the navigational mode is applied to a device so that a display screen feature may be effectively manipulated.

Abstract: A method, system, and medium are provided for dynamically updating a message communicated in telecommunications protocol. Typically, the updatable message is configured to include at least updateable attributes including an identifier that identifies the message as capable of being updated and a set of variables associated with selectable options. Upon receiving the message, a notification may be communicated to one or more mobile devices within a group, where the one or more devices are configured to present representations of the selectable options, status attribute, and content at a user interface. In embodiments, the change indication may be provided by a member of a group, where the indication triggers a messaging-network provider to automatically modify the content of the message. Concomitantly, information may be communicated to one or more mobile devices to alert the user without generating a separate message.

Abstract: A method and computer-readable media are provided for presenting notifications to a user via a mobile communications device upon the device receiving an indication that an event has occurred, such as a telephone call, a voicemail, an e-mail, a text message, or a calendar event. A device may receive an indication that an event has occurred while it is in a motionless state, such as when the device has not detected its own movement for a predetermined amount of time. The device may track the event occurrence and may provide a notification of the event occurrence upon the device entering a moved state. A moved state may be entered upon when the device determines that it has been moved. If the device is in a motionless state when it receives the indication of the event, it may not provide a notification at that time.

Abstract: A device, medium, and method are provided for enabling a user to control a mobile communications device that includes a vibration component. One embodiment of the method includes presenting an object on a touchscreen display of the mobile communications device; enabling the object to be moveable on the touchscreen by way of a touch interaction; in real time, continuously varying an output of the vibration component to cause a vibrational response of the mobile communications device, such that movement of the object in a first direction causes a first continuous vibrational output, and movement of the object in a second direction causes a second continuous vibrational output.

Abstract: A method, system, and medium are provided for enabling a user to control a mobile communications device that includes a vibration component. One embodiment of the method includes presenting an object on a touchscreen display of the mobile communications device; enabling the object to be moveable on the touchscreen by way of a touch interaction; in real time, continuously varying an intensity of an output of the vibration component to cause a vibrational response of the mobile communications device, such that movement of the object in a first direction causes a first continuous vibrational output, and movement of the object in a second direction causes a second continuous vibrational output.

Abstract: A communication device having a secret mode enters the secret mode in response to receiving a secret mode access key. In the secret mode, the communication device receives a first instruction to handle a covert communication source in the secret mode. The communication device receives a second instruction to exit the secret mode. After exiting the secret mode, and in response to the first instruction, the communication device provides a covert communication alert for an incoming communication from the covert communication source. The communication device provides overt communication alerts for incoming communications from overt communication sources.

Abstract: A method and system are described for operating a source communication device. The source communication device receives a first request from a user through a user interface requesting a first communication session with a target communication device. The source communication device transfers a first signal to a network requesting the first communication session with the target communication device, wherein the target communication device provides an overt communication alert for the first communication session. The source communication device receives a second request from the user requesting a second communication session requesting that the target communication device provide a covert communication alert for the second communication session.

Abstract: One or more media is provided for granting a user access to a secured portion of a website. Initially, a request to access is received from a user, where the request is typically composed of access information (e.g., user ID, password). Incident to receiving the request for access, a subscriber server initiates a request to validate a set of security credentials. One security credential may be a device identifier sent to a communications network in response to a user being conveyed a dial-in number. This device identifier may be extracted from a communication transmitted from the mobile device and validated by leveraging the communications network authentication procedure. Authentication is utilized to verify the identity of the user. Additional security credentials may also require satisfaction before granting a requesting user access. For instance, satisfaction may include comparing access information within a user request against the set of security credentials.

Abstract: One or more media is provided for performing a method of operating an electronic locking mechanism. Initially, a request from a requesting mobile device is received at a computing device via a sensing device. The request includes an identifier utilized in an initial validation sequence having the following steps: identifying a device identity according to the identifier, transmitting the device identity with a request that a message be communicated to a target mobile device, and determining validation data. Upon receiving the request, a communications network identifies the target mobile device, based on the device identity, and communicates a message with validation data therein. The mobile device conveys authentication information to the computing device, where the authentication information is based on the validation data.