Abstract: A mobile device card holder is provided that can include a mobile device housing component, and a receiving structure mechanically coupled to the mobile device housing component to hold cards such as a credit card and driver license. In one arrangement, the receiving structure can be externally integrated onto a mobile device housing. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method (200) and system (100) for flash control. The method can include the steps of—in a portable electronic device (122)—detecting (212) a request to operate a flash component (132), determining (214) whether to delay a timing of the operation of the flash component and if the timing will not be delayed, selectively disabling (224) a transmission component (114) for the portable electronic device. The selective disablement can create an operational opportunity (324) for the flash component. The method can also include the step of operating (224) the flash component during the created operational opportunity. As an example, the portable electronic device can be a mobile communications unit having a camera (136), the flash component can provide a flash for the camera and the transmission component can be a power amplifier (128).

Abstract: A method and system of sending supplemental information during a telecommunications session includes the step (305) of detecting a period of silence within the telecommunications session. The period of silence can be detected from at least one member of the telecommunications session. Comfort noise can be specified within at least one time slot (205) of a plurality of consecutive time slots (205, 210) for a channel over which the period of silence is detected. For at least one other time slot of the channel (210), non-voice data is specified such that the channel includes both comfort noise and other non-voice data during the period of silence. The consecutive time slots (205, 210) can be associated with a data block (200). The non-voice data can be a data payload of the other time slot (210).

Abstract: A mobile communication device (100) includes a camera module (102) which provides an image stream when the camera module is active. The image stream is used to display images on a display (114) to provide a viewfinder function so that a user of the mobile communication device can see to what the camera is aimed. While the mobile communication device is operating in camera mode, the mobile communication device receives a signal at a radio receiver (104) during a time slot of a time division multiple access frame (110). To prevent the camera module from interfering with the receiver operation, the camera module operation is suspended during the receiver time slot.

Abstract: A subscriber unit (107) operates in a communication system (100) with at least two servers (102, 103). The subscriber unit (107) receives a plurality of received signal samples that each include a color code value (304) identifying on cell server of a plurality of cell servers transmitting signals in a coverage area. The subscriber unit (107) then determines the best received color code value based on a quality/error metric derived from the received color codes associated with the received signal samples.

Abstract: A method (10) and system (200) for user interface enhancement using speaker directionality can include a speaker phone having a microphone array (35, 36, and 37) on a communication device (32) at a first location and a processor (202) coupled to the microphone array. The processor can be programmed to associate (12) a speaker direction with a given speaker using the microphone array and identify (14) the given speaker and provide an indication of the given speaker at a communication device (42) at a second location in communication with the communication device at the first location. The processor can be further programmed to map (18) or assign sectors to a number of speakers using the microphone array in the first location based on speaker directionality of each of the number of speakers.

Abstract: A mobile communication device (100) includes a vocoder (104) for vocoding speech (500) received at the mobile communication device. The parameters output by the vocoder are used to generate a voicing quality metric (208). The voicing quality metric is used to provide feedback to the user of the mobile communication device by various feedback modalities including visual (114), audible (108), and tactile modalities (118) to indicate when the user should speak louder to overcome ambient noise. The voicing quality metric is also used by other communications equipment (304, 312) to decide if communication activity is needed.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method (300, 500) and system (112) for reducing a forced neighbor cell procedure. The method can include the steps of—in a mobile unit (112) on a communications channel (400, 600)—monitoring (312, 512) one or more neighbor cell parameters and performing (314, 514) a neighbor cell measurement in a selectively generated opportunity in the communications channel to reduce the possibility that the mobile unit will enter a forced neighbor cell measurement.

Abstract: A keypad assembly (10) with embedded audio components can include a keypad and an audio component (14) within at least one key (12) of the keypad. At least one key can include an audio port (13). The keypad assembly can further include an insulating layer (18) or flexible circuit (21) between the audio component and a printed circuit board (17) as well as a switch (15) or other switch activation means on the printed circuit board for activating a function when the at least one key is depressed. The audio component can be a microphone or a speaker or an ultrasonic transducer for example. The keypad assembly can include a plurality of keys where each key in the plurality can have a microphone or speaker to form a microphone array or speaker array respectively. For example, the audio generating component can be formed using micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) technology.

Abstract: A selective call radio (SCR) (100) is provided for exchanging messages with a base station (150) on inbound and outbound channels. The SCR has a wireless transceiver (102), and a processor (104). The processor is programmed to determine (204) a priority setting for the SCR, and upon detecting an appropriate priority setting, transmit (210 or 214) a resource request message to the base station on a select one of one or more unused transmission slots (162) near in time to a transmission on the outbound channel of control information by the base station.

Abstract: A voice reply system (200) suitable for handling an incoming call. The voice reply system can include a reply handler (220) that, responsive to receiving the first spoken utterance from a user (250) speaking into a headset (110), audibly provides to the user a caller identifier sound token correlating to the incoming call. The voice reply system also can include a call handler (210) that, responsive to the reply handler receiving a second spoken utterance from the user, implements at least one routine that handles the incoming call. For example, the routine can automatically provide a predetermined reply to a caller (240). The reply handler also can include a voice recorder (226) that can append a voice note onto the predetermined reply to provide a combined reply to the caller.

Abstract: A mobile communication device (100) includes a camera module (102) which provides an image stream when the camera module is active. The image stream is used to display images on a display (114) to provide a viewfinder function so that a user of the mobile communication device can see to what the camera is aimed. While the mobile communication device is operating in camera mode, the mobile communication device receives a signal at a radio receiver (104) during a time slot of a time division multiple access frame (110). To prevent the camera module from interfering with the receiver operation, the camera module operation is suspended during the receiver time slot.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method (200) and system (100) for flash control. The method can include the steps of—in a portable electronic device (122)—detecting (212) a request to operate a flash component (132), determining (214) whether to delay a timing of the operation of the flash component and if the timing will not be delayed, selectively disabling (224) a transmission component (114) for the portable electronic device. The selective disablement can create an operational opportunity (324) for the flash component. The method can also include the step of operating (224) the flash component during the created operational opportunity. As an example, the portable electronic device can be a mobile communications unit having a camera (136), the flash component can provide a flash for the camera and the transmission component can be a power amplifier (128).

Abstract: The invention concerns a method (400) and system (100) for selective receiver shutdown. The method can include the steps of—at a mobile communications unit (128)—receiving (412) and transmitting (412) over a traffic channel (500) that supports the transmission of at least voice signals and has a receive channel (514) and a transmit channel (516) and selectively deactivating (416) a receiver (312) of the mobile communications unit to ignore an assigned portion (524) of the receive channel of the traffic channel. The assigned portion of the receive channel can be a payload portion (524), and the method can also include the step of selectively activating (414) the receiver to receive a control information portion (522) of the receive channel.

Abstract: A method of managing a receiver. The method (300) includes the steps of selectively converting (326) a first communications channel (168) to a second communications channel (170), transmitting (328) data over the second communications channel (170) to a communications unit (128, 130) in which the data includes an information header (174) and reading (330) at least a portion of the information header (174) transmitted over the second communications channel (170). The method (300) can also include the step of selectively deactivating (332) a receiver (148, 158) of the communications unit (128, 130) in response to the reading step (330).

Abstract: The invention equips a cellular telephone or other communications device with improved voice recognition and command capability. A cellular handset may be equipped with a digital signal processing or other hardware to enhance speech detection and command decoding, but still be relatively constrained in terms of the amount of electronic memory or other storage available on the device, or the processing power or battery life offered by the device. In embodiments, the cellular handset or other device may perform a first-stage decoding of a voice or other command, for instance to perform a voice browsing function over the Internet or a directory. The handset may perform a look-up of the detected command or service against a local memory cache of stored commands, services and models and if a match is found, proceed directly to performing the desired service.

Abstract: A method and system of sending supplemental information during a telecommunications session includes the step (305) of detecting a period of silence within the telecommunications session. The period of silence can be detected from at least one member of the telecommunications session. Comfort noise can be specified within at least one time slot (205) of a plurality of consecutive time slots (205, 210) for a channel over which the period of silence is detected. For at least one other time slot of the channel (210), non-voice data is specified such that the channel includes both comfort noise and other non-voice data during the period of silence. The consecutive time slots (205, 210) can be associated with a data block (200). The non-voice data can be a data payload of the other time slot (210).