Abstract: A portable telecommunication apparatus has a user interface, a programmable controller, a memory coupled to the controller, and an information access program, such as a WAP browser, which is stored in the memory and is executable by the controller. The information access program provides access for a user to a global information network, such as Internet, through the user interface and a first wireless communication link. The apparatus also has an external device interface for connecting an external device to the portable telecommunication apparatus over a second communication link. The information access program allows the user to control the external device through the user interface, the external device interface and the second communication link.

Abstract: A server device has a programmable controller, a memory coupled to the controller, and a server program stored in the memory and executable by the controller. A first interface of the server device provides a first communication link to a portable telecommunication apparatus. A second interface connects the server device to an electronic utility device. The server program communicates with a client program in the portable telecommunication apparatus through the first interface. The server program also communicates with the electronic utility device through the second interface, so that digital information may be transferred between the portable telecommunication apparatus and the electronic utility device.

Abstract: A server device has a programmable controller, a memory coupled to the controller, and a server program stored in the memory and executable by the controller. A first interface of the server device provides a first communication link to a portable telecommunication apparatus. A second interface connects the server device to an electronic utility device. The server program communicates with a client program in the portable telecommunication apparatus through the first interface. The server program also communicates with the electronic utility device through the second interface, so that digital information may be transferred between the portable telecommunication apparatus and the electronic utility device.

Abstract: A portable telecommunication apparatus (200) has a user interface (250), a programmable controller (210), a memory (220, 230) coupled to the controller, and an information access program (240), such as a WAP browser, which is stored in the memory and is executable by the controller. The information access program provides access for a user to a global information network, such as Internet, through the user interface and a first wireless communication link. The apparatus also has an external device interface (260, 262, 264) for connecting an external device to the portable telecommunication apparatus over a second communication link. The information access program (240) allows the user to control the external device through the user interface (250), the external device interface (260, 262, 264) and the second communication link.

Abstract: A portable telecommunication apparatus (200) has a user interface (250), a programmable controller (210), a memory (220, 230) coupled to the controller, and an information access program (240), such as a WAP browser, which is stored in the memory and is executable by the controller. The information access program provides access for a user to a global information network, such as Internet, through the user interface and a first wireless communication link. The apparatus also has an external device interface (260, 262, 264) for connecting an external device to the portable telecommunication apparatus over a second communication link. The information access program (240) allows the user to control the external device through the user interface (250), the external device interface (260, 262, 264) and the second communication link.

Abstract: An encoded signal that comprises a plurality of received encoded signal values is received by using an error correction decoding technique to generate a plurality of decoded signals from the encoded signal, wherein the plurality of decoded signals includes one or more decoded information signals and one or more decoded error detection signals. A correction value is generated that is representative of how much correction was performed by the error correction decoding technique to generate the plurality of decoded signals. The one or more decoded error detection signals are used to generate an error detection result. The decoded information signals are then alternatively accepted or rejected as a function of the error detection result and a comparison of the correction value with a threshold value.

Abstract: A server device (31, 41, 51) has a programmable controller, a memory coupled to the controller, and a server program stored in the memory and executable by the controller. A first interface of the server device provides a first communication link (32, 42, 52) to a portable telecommunication apparatus (1). A second interface connects the server device to an electronic utility device (30, 40, 50). The server program communicates with a client program in the portable telecommunication apparatus through the first interface. The server program also communicates with the electronic utility device through the second interface, so that digital information may be transferred between the portable telecommunication apparatus and the electronic utility device.