Abstract: A method and system for extending an authentication of a wireless device are disclosed. For example, the method includes authenticating access to the wireless device via a first authentication. The method detects a bonded authentication device as a second authentication. The method permits access to the wireless device when the bonded authentication device is detected.

Abstract: A method and system for extending an authentication of a wireless device are disclosed. For example, the method includes authenticating access to the wireless device via a first authentication. The method detects a bonded authentication device as a second authentication. The method permits access to the wireless device when the bonded authentication device is detected.

Abstract: A method and system for extending an authentication of a wireless device are disclosed. For example, the method includes authenticating access to the wireless device via a first authentication. The method detects a bonded authentication device as a second authentication. The method permits access to the wireless device when the bonded authentication device is detected.

Abstract: A method and system for extending an authentication of a wireless device are disclosed. For example, the method includes authenticating access to the wireless device via a first authentication. The method detects a bonded authentication device as a second authentication. The method permits access to the wireless device when the bonded authentication device is detected.

Abstract: A communication network (FIG. 1) makes available, to a first vending machine (102) of a plurality of vending machines, information from nearby ones of the plurality of vending machines for coordinating product availability and vending machine location. The first vending machine then determines 502 that the desired product is no longer available at the first vending machine. Thereafter, the first vending machine obtains (504–520) the information including a location of the nearby alternate vending machine for the desired product. The first vending machine then conveys (410) the location of the nearby alternate vending machine to a customer who wishes to purchase the desired product.

Abstract: A peer device (132) is arranged and programmed for maintaining a virtual queue for an event, and a personal presence identifier (122) is carried by a user and coupled to the peer device by a short-range two-way wireless link. The peer device and the personal presence identifier are arranged and programmed to establish (58) a two-way personal area network with one another when the personal presence identifier is within wireless transmission range of the peer device. The personal presence identifier and the peer device are also arranged and programmed to exchange (82) needs specifications and capability specifications with one another after establishing the two-way personal area network.

Abstract: A messaging unit (122) receives (702)a message (404) having a header string, and compresses (820) a display of the header string when the messaging unit is operating (802) in a message preview mode.

Abstract: A first service provider having a highest security of access, initially programs (604) tables in a subscriber unit (122), including an address table (224) having entries including addresses to which the subscriber unit is responsive, a sub-address table (226) including a sub-address identifier and a corresponding first pointer to a first decryption key for an algorithm required to decrypt a sub-message associated with the sub-address identifier, and a key table (228) including the first decryption key. A second service provider having a security of access less than that of the first service provider reprograms (606) an attribute of at least one of the sub-address table and the key table. The second service provider obtains reprogramming access by encrypting a first reprogramming message such that it can be properly decrypted using the first decryption key.

Abstract: A pricing entity (124) periodically transmits (502) pricing information (226) including pricing of a utility commodity as a function of time. A meter apparatus (130) periodically make s a measurement (602) of consumption of the utility commodity during a predetermined interval, and determines (603) a time at which the measurement is made. The meter apparatus stores (604) the measurement and the time of the measurement in a memory (212), and receives and stores (504) the pricing information. The meter apparatus calculates (610) a billable cost incurred during the predetermined interval, from the measurement and the pricing of the utility commodity corresponding to the time of the measurement.

Abstract: A server (112) sends (604) selected codebooks (226) and application identifiers (228) to be associated with the codebooks, to a client (122) in preparation for communicating messages. The client receives and stores (606) the selected codebooks and application identifiers. Subsequently, the server, in response to having a message to send to the client, compresses (708) the message according to a codebook associated with an application generating the message, and transmits (710) the message and an application identifier to the client. The client, in response to receiving the message and the application identifier, identifies (714), from the application identifier, the application to receive the message and, hence, the codebook associated with the application, to use for decompressing the message. The client then decompresses (716) the message according to the codebook.