Abstract: A wireless piconet network device includes a GPS receiver to determine and provide earth coordinates to a gatekeeper of a wireless network so as to provide a level of security to wireless networks which requires accessing wireless devices to be within predefined boundary coordinates. The automatic restriction of access to a wireless network (e.g., a wireless local area network (LAN) such as a piconet network) by requiring a wireless network device to provide earth coordinates (e.g., GPS location information) as part of an establishment or maintenance of a connection to a wireless network, independent of a range of communication of any device in the wireless network. A wireless piconet network device outside of predetermined earth coordinates of a secured area (e.g., a building, a room in a building, a desk in a room in a building, etc.

Abstract: A smart BLUETOOTH interface gateway device that allows a BLUETOOTH headset to establish an audio connection and communicate with a conventional wireless phone (e.g., a wireless phone that does not have BLUETOOTH installed). In accordance with the principles of the present invention, the connection is controlled merely by monitoring the presence of sound and tones in the audio stream from an analog audio jack of a conventional wireless phone. The smart BLUETOOTH interface gateway device preferably attaches to the wireless phone just as a wired headset would. Use of the wireless phone is the same as if a wired headset were plugged in.

Abstract: An apparatus and technique for allowing wireless electronic badges to temporarily establish a wireless network (e.g., a piconet network) with a network security station mounted in a facility of an employer, a gym, a membership club, etc. The wireless electronic badges automatically exchange user code with the network security station, and receives relevant badge information for display and use by that particular secured facility. In a preferred embodiment, BLUETOOTH technology is used in the wireless piconet front ends of the electronic wireless badge and the network security station. The disclosed electronic wireless badge includes an LCD display, a display controller, an information exchange module, and a wireless front end (e.g., a wireless piconet network such as a BLUETOOTH network). The electronic wireless badge includes a unique user code which is passed to the network security station.

Abstract: A home or office is remotely monitored by an authorized caller using wireless piconet networks between personal wireless piconet identifier devices worn or carried by particular persons and a remotely accessible access monitor base unit. Persons are monitored by an authorized remote person using a personal wireless piconet identifying device. Each personal wireless piconet identifying device includes a unique code serving as a personal identifier. An access monitoring base unit (e.g., a cordless telephone) includes a piconet network front end which establishes a piconet or scatternet network connection with a wireless piconet entrance/exit monitor, which in turn establishes temporary wireless piconet networks with the personal wireless piconet identifying units. A properly authorized caller may remotely access the access monitor base unit, enter a suitably secure access code, and request and download desired information from the piconet participant database, either in digital or audible form.

Abstract: A BLUETOOTH device is provided wherein the output RF transmission power level during pairing is purposefully reduced from otherwise conventional or normal communication levels to a low power level, greatly reducing the range of possible interception. Security can be improved even more by further reducing the transmit power even below that defined for a class 2 radio to an extremely low power level. After the link keys have been passed and/or other pairing processes, the BLUETOOTH devices may safely return to normal power levels to continue communications. In an alternative embodiment, a BLUETOOTH device may be required to transmit data keys (e.g., a link key) and/or other pairing operations over a temporary wired connection (or temporary line-of-sight or near line-of-sight connection such as infrared) to another BLUETOOTH device.

Abstract: Confidential information is protected from unauthorized or accidental disclosure by requiring a successful comparison of near end and far end passwords prior to a facsimile transmission of the confidential information.

Abstract: A method and system for providing an accurate service record to communication devices seeking modem-based services. The system includes a phone line detector capable of detecting whether a properly working phone line connection exists. This can be accomplished by detecting whether a phone line is actually plugged into a phone jack connected to a modem of a communication device. If a proper phone line connection exists, then the communication device generates a service record identifying, among other services, all modem-based services that the communication device can offer to other communication devices in search of a modem or modem-based service.

Abstract: A wireless piconet network device includes a GPS receiver to determine and provide earth coordinates to a gatekeeper of a wireless network so as to provide a level of security to wireless networks which requires accessing wireless devices to be within predefined boundary coordinates. The automatic restriction of access to a wireless network (e.g., a wireless local area network (LAN) such as a piconet network) by requiring a wireless network device to provide earth coordinates (e.g., GPS location information) as part of an establishment or maintenance of a connection to a wireless network, independent of a range of communication of any device in the wireless network. A wireless piconet network device outside of predetermined earth coordinates of a secured area (e.g., a building, a room in a building, a desk in a room in a building, etc.

Abstract: A proximity regulation system for use with a portable cell phone and a method of operating the same. In one embodiment, the proximity regulation system includes a location sensing subsystem that is configured to determine a location of the portable cell phone proximate a user. A power governing subsystem is coupled to the location sensing subsystem and configured to determine a proximity transmit power level of the portable cell phone based on the location.

Abstract: Apparatus and method to minimize power usage by electronic devices. In a particular disclosed example, the battery power of a remote handset is reduced by extending the sniff period of a cordless telephone when the remote handset is remote from its base unit and the user is not likely to use the cordless telephone (e.g., when away from the house or when asleep). A low power mode module causes the electronic device, e.g., the remote handset of a cordless telephone, to remain in an extended low power STANDBY mode, or to extends the period of the periodic transition to a receive only STANDBY mode to check status registers at the base unit, at appropriate times. In one embodiment, a low power mode table contains entries defining periods of time during which the remote handset may transition between the low power STANDBY mode and the receive only STANDBY mode. The remote handset transitions to a fully powered transmit/receive (TDD) ON mode, e.g.

Abstract: Embedded writing or typing in a fax document or white board presentation are detected in a predetermined region of the document, recognized and converted into textual data corresponding to the fax telephone number or e-mail of the recipient of the document. The fax telephone number is automatically dialed without requiring the user to input the telephone number or even select a speed dial telephone number, although the use of confirmation of the scanned and textually converted fax telephone number or e-mail is within the principles of the present invention. In a first embodiment, the present invention adds the capability to a fax machine to scan the first page of the outgoing fax (e.g., the cover page) for detection and recognition (e.g., optical character recognition (OCR)) of the recipient's fax number and automatically dials it if found. Moreover, the sender's identification (e.g.

Abstract: A cordless telephone according to one embodiment of the invention includes a base unit and a handset, wherein the handset includes a keypad, a key scan element adapted to scan the keypad for a predetermined key sequence, and a controller adapted to cause the initiation of an outgoing call based on a determination of the predetermined key sequence. In one embodiment, the predetermined key sequence is 9-1-1. In an alternative embodiment according to the invention, a method of placing a telephone call from a cordless telephone handset that is in an on-hook condition includes the steps of sensing the activation of a predetermined key sequence, and initiating a telephone call based on the sensed activation. The telephone call may be to a telephone number corresponding to the predetermined key sequence, such as 9-1-1.

Abstract: An intelligent FAX machine monitors a shared telephone line after another telephone has taken it off-hook. If preliminary signals from a sending FAX machine to another telephone on the same line are detected, then the FAX machine also goes off-hook and tries to establish a link with the sending FAX machine. Presumably the other telephone will hang up. E.g., a telephone answering device (TAD) automatically detects a parallel set going off-hook, causing the TAD to go on-hook. If the parallel telephone is an ordinary telephone, then that user may merely hang up after hearing FAX signals. In another aspect, the FAX machine picks up incoming calls from known FAX machines before a second ring (or before a third ring), based on Caller ID information, so that other pre-configured ring-count telephonic devices such as a telephone answering machine can be operated in an automatic mode with a higher pre-configured ring count.

Abstract: The present invention provides a device for connecting a power supply to a rechargeable device, in which a detection unit is adapted to detect power levels of a battery to output a first signal when a low power level of the battery is detected, and a second signal when a sufficient power level of the battery is detected. A power control unit is adapted to receive the first and second signals, and to disconnect circuitry in the rechargeable device from the battery when the first signal is asserted, and to connect the circuitry in the rechargeable device to the battery when the second signal is asserted.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for automatically (i.e., without requiring manual user adjustment) reducing gain in one or both acoustic feedback paths of a cordless telephone when the handset and its base unit are operating in close proximity to one another, preventing uncontrolled feedback and audible howling even before it begins. A proximity detection module determines a distance between the handset and its base unit using an appropriate technique, e.g., using RSSI, round trip delay times, and/or GPS measurements. If the distance indicates that the handset is within close proximity to the base unit, appropriate attenuation of the microphone gain and/or speaker volume of the base unit and/or the handset will be implemented. One or more fixed levels of attenuation may be implemented based on a corresponding one or more measured close proximity distances between the handset and its base unit. Thus, the attenuation may result in a muting, a fixed amount of attenuation (e.g.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically forwarding calls directed to a wireless telephone device is disclosed. A call forwarding operation is automatically enabled in response to the wireless telephone device being at a particular location and is automatically disabled in response to the wireless telephone device leaving said predetermined location.

Abstract: A key chain rechargeable device which is recharged when a key is inserted into a matching lock. In accordance with one embodiment, the key includes two electrical contacts or is separated into two electrically isolated portions. The two electrical contacts or portions of the key contact mating contacts in the matching lock only when the key is inserted therein. In another embodiment, inductive coupling is used when the key chain rechargeable device is proximate to a matching lock of a key associated therewith. A charging circuit may be integrated in the key chain rechargeable device or in the external device associated with the lock. The key chain rechargeable device may be, e.g., a wireless device such as a BLUETOOTH™ network device, pager, a security alarm enable/disable device, garage door opener, or a keyless entry remote. In a preferred embodiment, the key relates to a vehicle ignition key, and the key chain rechargeable device is recharged during operation of a vehicle.

Abstract: A technique and apparatus for transferring a communication link between two different modes of a multimode cell phone. For instance, an active telephone call using a cordless telephone RF communication link may be automatically switched (with user prompt if desired) to a cell phone call when desired (e.g., when the cordless telephone goes out of range of its base unit), and vice versa. CallerID Type 2 and Call Waiting may be used to switch the far end telephone from one line to the other with minimal (or even unnoticeable) disruption to the participants or content of the telephone connection.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to perform a real-time drift correction of a remote handset's local oscillator in a digital cordless telephone. The remote handset begins in a standby (sniff) mode. The remote handset periodically wakes from a sleep mode and goes into a normal link verification mode. Once in the link verification mode, the remote handset enters a time division duplexing (TDD) mode and attempts to establish a link with a base unit based on the timing of the TDD data frame. After the remote handset establishes a link with the base unit, the remote handset requests a security word from the base unit. Upon receiving the requested security word, the remote handset determines if the requested security word matches a security word of the remote handset. The remote handset implements a software frequency adjustment of its local oscillator. Once per frame, the remote handset enters a timing recovery state where the current state of the frame is compared with a previous state.

Abstract: A technique and apparatus for efficiently and flexibly utilizing shared memory as a full duplex mailbox for both data and payload information. The invention allows payload messages of varying lengths to be passed in contiguous memory space, allowing an interrupt service routine (ISR) or other process to easily and quickly read or cache the passed payload data. In a disclosed embodiment, a processor-to-processor mailbox is formed using a shared memory (e.g., a dual port RAM). The shared memory is separated into three main portions: a processor 1 to processor 2 fixed portion, a processor 2 to processor 1 fixed portion, and an unallocated dynamic portion. Importantly, the other direction of the mailbox is located starting at the highest address of the shared memory, and works toward the lowest address of the shared memory. Preferably, write access for payload messages and other generally longer messages are dynamically allocated in the unallocated dynamic portion for use in either mailbox.