Abstract: A user-interface system for entering an alphanumeric string or alphanumeric clusters for identifying information content is presented. The user-interface system has presentation logic for displaying an image of a virtual user alphanumeric interface on a presentation device. The virtual user alphanumeric interface includes an image of an overloaded keypad that has a two dimensional configuration of alphanumeric clusters. Each cluster corresponds to a set of alphanumeric characters. The user-interface system also has cluster selection logic for receiving user actions from an input device (e.g., five-button interface) to provide visual cues to help the user select an alphanumeric cluster and to cause the selected alphanumeric cluster or character from a cluster to be displayed in a display field of the virtual user alphanumeric interface.

Abstract: The present invention relates in general to in-store direction systems, and more specifically to a method and apparatus that determine the current physical location of a given shopper in the store using only visual or audio cues in the store; and then provide a path from the shopper's current location to an item the shopper is looking for, while taking into account commercial objectives of the store in addition to the convenience of the shopper. The apparatus as in this invention comprises just the shopper's mobile terminal and a backend system. This invention avoids the use of radio-frequency based location detectors within the store and hence avoids capital costs associated with those. The interaction between the mobile terminal and the shopper is carried out using one of a plurality of methods including application packets, SMS/MMS, or voice.

Abstract: Methods of and systems for selecting and presenting content based on user identification are provided. A user-interface method of selecting and presenting content items in which the presentation is ordered at least in part based on inferring which user of a collection of users is using an input device includes providing a set of content items, providing a set of preference information for each user indicating content item preferences of a corresponding user, and providing a set of user keypress biometric models representing expected keypress activity for the corresponding user. User keypress activity to identify desired content items is monitored to biometrically characterize the user and analyzed to find the closest match to one of the keypress biometric models. Based on the closest match, which user of the collection of users entered the input is inferred and the corresponding preference information is used to select, order, and present content items.

Abstract: A user-interface method of incrementally identifying and presenting a collection of content items and a collection of advertisements in which the identification is at least in part based on input incrementally entered by a user on an input-constrained device is presented. The method includes providing a set of content items and bids with associated advertisements. The bids organized into unambiguous and ambiguous categories. Incremental input is entered in order to identify desired content items. In response to the incremental input content items are identified and provided. Advertisements are also identified and provided based on a predetermined function. The presentation order is determined at least in part by an economic utility function.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for offsetting network latencies in an incremental processing of a search query entered by a user of a device having connectivity to a remote server over a network. The search query is directed at identifying an item from a set of items. In accordance with the method and system, data expected to be of interest to the user is stored in a local memory associated with the device. Upon receiving a key entry or a browse action entry of the search query from the user, the system searches the local memory associated with the device to identify results therein matching the key entry or browse action entry. The results identified in the local memory are displayed on a display associated with the device. Also upon receiving a key entry or a browse action entry of the search query from the user, the system sends the search query to the remote server and retrieves results from the remote server matching the key entry or browse action entry.

Abstract: A user-interface system for entering an alphanumeric string or alphanumeric clusters for identifying information content is presented. The user-interface system has presentation logic for displaying an image of a virtual user alphanumeric interface on a presentation device. The virtual user alphanumeric interface includes an image of an overloaded keypad that has a two dimensional configuration of alphanumeric clusters. Each cluster corresponds to a set of alphanumeric characters. The user-interface system also has cluster selection logic for receiving user actions from an input device (e.g., five-button interface) to provide visual cues to help the user select an alphanumeric cluster and to cause the selected alphanumeric cluster or character from a cluster to be displayed in a display field of the virtual user alphanumeric interface.

Abstract: The apparatus and method of the present invention provides a system for spanning operation of a mobile station (110) between a public cellular system (100) for packet data service and a private autonomous cellular system (102) for circuit services when both services are available. In the disclosed system, the mobile station (110) remains on the public system (100) until a circuit call needs to be set up. If the mobile station (110) receives a call on the autonomous system (102), it is notified by the public system (100) via a tunneling message. If the mobile station (110) wishes to originate a call, it switches to the control channels of the autonomous system (102). If the signal strength of the autonomous system (102) falls below a predefined threshold, the mobile station (110) exits the disclosed dual mode, thereby receiving both packet and circuit services from the public system 100.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing embedded messages at a mobile station including a subscriber identity module (SIM) identifying the subscriber, for example, a GSM or a non-GSM wireless telephone. The process includes receiving a message having a protocol identifier, transferring at least a portion of the message to the subscriber identity module if the protocol identifier satisfied a condition, extracting information from the at least portion to of the message at the subscriber identity module if a protocol identified by the protocol identifier is supported by the subscriber identity module.

Abstract: A non-GSM network that uses a GSM serving GPRS support node (40) and a gateway support node for providing packet service to transmit a message capsule (52) containing one or more signaling messages between a mobile station (36) and a mobile switching center (46). The mobile station (36) constructs an uplink tunneling of messages protocol envelope (48) that includes, in addition to a uplink message capsule, information specific to non-GSM protocols and the serving GPRS support node (40) determines a destination of the uplink message capsule based on a routing area identifier and the information specific to the non-GSM protocols. The serving GPRS support node (40) constructs a downlink tunneling of messages protocol envelope that includes a downlink message capsule and information specific to the non-GSM protocols and transmits the downlink tunneling of messages to the mobile station (36) and the mobile station extracts the downlink message capsule based on the information specific to the non-GSM protocols.